Opportunity In Colonial America

Paper Summary:

This paper traces the evolution of religious tolerance in American beginning with colonial America and continuing up until the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The paper looks at how, even though religious autonomy was the primary influence that sparked the first settlers to leave England and establish colonies in the New World, some of these same settlers and their colonies immediately emulated the very principle responsible for their persecution in Europe, by establishing mandatory churches in the new colonies. The paper also looks at how, ultimately, many of the opportunities available only to some during the early colonial period only started to become equally available to all after the Civil War and, in the case of true equality for everyone, these rights weren't guaranteed until the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

From the Paper:

"Maryland was the first colony to recognize absolute religious freedom after originally being established by the son of George Calvert, a Catholic convert in England who had remained close to the Royal family, nevertheless. His son, Lord Baltimore intended Maryland as a refuge for Catholics, but refrained from imposing any religious affiliation and welcomed Protestants as well.Shortly before the end of the seventeenth century, the English King had decided to combine the two colonies known as the Plymouth Colony, (consisting of the first descendents of the original Settlers), and the Massachusetts Bay Colony, (consisting of the first descendants of the Puritans), into a single colony to be named Massachusetts. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bower, J. (1997) The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions Oxford University Press.
• Fenton, E. (1969) A New History of the United States. Holt: New York.
• Furlong, P., Margaret, S., Sharkey, D. (1966) America Yesterday: A New Nation (Revised). Sadlier: New York.
• Nevins, A., Commager, H.S. (1992) A Pocket History of The United States 9th Ed.New York: Pocket Books
• The Pennsylvania Dutch Country Welcome Center, Lancaster, PA(2007) PaDutch.com. Accessed October 14, at: http://www.800padutch.com/atafaq.shtml#diff

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