loud speaker

11-24-23 - Teachers and Parents, please join our new MrNussbaum Facebook group. Here, you will find contests, giveaways, new content announcements, daily or weekly activity suggestions, discussions, and much more! Right now, there is a new code for 75 percent off an annual subscription to MrN 365!

arrow up
Home > History > Rhode Island Colony

Rhode Island Colony

This page tells about the history of the Rhode Island Colony.

Roger Williams and the Rhode Island Colony

Rhode Island Colony

Preaching Against the Church

Like many English Puritans, Roger Williams came to Massachusetts as part of "The Great Migration", the Puritan departure from England and arrival in the new world. When Williams arrived, however, he realized that the Puritan church had not severed all of its ties with the Church of England, and hence, was not pure enough. For this reason, he refused to fill the position of minister in the church of Boston. Williams became even more controversial when he declared the colony's charter or land-grant invalid because it was not issued by the true owners of the land - the Indians. Williams soon moved to Salem and generated even more controversy by preaching against the taxes that paid church expenses and laws that made attending church mandatory.

Progressive Views About Church and State

Despite his Puritan ties, Williams' own intolerance of the rules, laws and customs of the Puritans caused him, incidentally, to preach for religious tolerance. He argued against the Puritans laws that controlled the populations. He was one of the first to call for the separation of church and state - a law which now forbids the government to use any religion to influence the people.

The Founding of Providence

The intolerant Puritans often made a point to suppress individuals with divergent views. They feared people like Roger Williams could influence the people and ultimately threaten the church. In the fall of 1635, they voted to banish him. Before the henchmen reached his home, however, Williams ventured off himself toward Narragansett Bay in January of 1636. After many weeks of traveling through the wilderness of New England, Williams purchased land from the local Indians and founded the town of Providence. Williams devised a compact that allowed all residents to vote regardless of their religion. Furthermore, he encouraged religious sects unpopular with the church to settle in Providence. In March of 1644, Williams did receive a charter from the English Parliament. Under his charter of 1647, Providence, Newport, Warwick, and Portsmouth united to eventually form the colony of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Colony Articles and Activities

13 Colonies Navigation

Other 13 Colonies Articles

UPGRADE TO MRN365.COM

Upgrade to MrN 365 to access our entire library of incredible educational resources and teacher tools in an ad-free environment. If you like MrNussbaum.com, you will LOVE MrN 365!

Learn More