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'''Debate:  were the Puritans right to be strict and to expel people of other religions?'''

'''Debate:  were the Puritans right to be strict and to expel people of other religions?'''

One prominent text claims, under "Rhode Island," that "This belief [by Roger Williams] in the separation of church and state became a cornerstone of the American Constitution in 1787."  That is completely false.  Roger Williams was long dead by 1787, and there is no separation of church and state in the Constitution.  Rhode Island did not even send any representatives to draft the Constitution and it had no role in the drafting of the Bill of Rights.  In fact, Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until after George Washington was elected president, and even then it took much arm-twisting to compel Rhode Island to ratify the Constitution.  But some people want to keep religion out of government, and they refuse to admit that the First Amendment only prohibits the establishment of a national church by the government.  Rhode Island was the only colony that supported a "separation" of church and state.

One prominent textbook claims, under "Rhode Island," that "This belief [by Roger Williams] in the separation of church and state became a cornerstone of the American Constitution in 1787."  That is completely false.  Roger Williams was long dead by 1787, and there is no separation of church and state in the Constitution.  Rhode Island did not even send any representatives to draft the Constitution and it had no role in the drafting of the Bill of Rights.  In fact, Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until after George Washington was elected president, and even then it took much arm-twisting to compel Rhode Island to ratify the Constitution.  But some people want to keep religion out of government, and they refuse to admit that the First Amendment only prohibits the establishment of a national church by the government.  Also, Rhode Island was the '''only''' colony that supported a "separation" of church and state.  Other colonies actually funded religion in various ways.

 

In between Massachusetts and Virginia there was a third approach:  that taken by Pennsylvania.  William Penn was another extraordinary Englishman.  He converted to become a Quaker in England and began practicing that religion in violation of English law.  He was arrested and prosecuted, but the jury refused to convict him.  The king owed his father money, and gave the son what is today Pennsylvania.  It was nothing but woods at the time.  But William Penn founded his colony based on one principle:  religious freedom for all.  He advertised in Europe and attracted peoples of many nationalities in addition to the English.   

In between Massachusetts and Virginia there was a third approach:  that taken by Pennsylvania.  William Penn was another extraordinary Englishman.  He converted to become a Quaker in England and began practicing that religion in violation of English law.  He was arrested and prosecuted, but the jury refused to convict him.  The king owed his father money, and gave the son what is today Pennsylvania.  It was nothing but woods at the time.  But William Penn founded his colony based on one principle:  religious freedom for all.  He advertised in Europe and attracted peoples of many nationalities in addition to the English.   

 

Penn was very kind to the Indians and soon had the most popular colony in America.  Philadelphia became America's greatest city, surpassing Boston in population in the 1700s.  Only Pennsylvania and Maryland survived in the long-term under private ownership.  Virtually all the other colonies were eventually taken over by the King of England, often due to troubles that arose in the colony.

Penn was very kind to the Indians and soon had the most popular colony in America.  Philadelphia became America's greatest city, surpassing Boston in population in the 1700s.  Only Pennsylvania and Maryland survived long-term under private ownership.  Virtually all the other colonies were eventually taken over by the King of England, often due to troubles that arose in the colony.

 

There were other colonies.  Pennsylvania was founded over 50 years *after* Virginia and Massachusetts.  Georgia was founded over 50 *years* after Pennsylvania, which means over 100 years after Virginia and Massachusetts.  Philanthropist [[James Oglethorpe]] founded Savannah in Georgia in 1733 for poor debtors in jails of England.  Also a buffer colony was created between South Carolina and Spanish Florida.  Oglethorpe was very religious and very strict.  Too strict for the King, who took over the colony in 1751.  The colony was not nearly as strong and developed as the other colonies, so the other colonies did not take it very seriously.

Pennsylvania was founded over 50 years '''after''' Virginia and Massachusetts.  Georgia was founded over 50 years after Pennsylvania, which means over 100 years after Virginia and Massachusetts.  Philanthropist [[James Oglethorpe]] founded Savannah in Georgia in 1733 for poor debtors in jails of England, and to serve as a "buffer" colony to separate protect English South Carolina against possible encroachment by Spanish Florida.  Oglethorpe was very religious and very strict.  Too strict, in fact, for the King of England, who then took over the colony in 1751.  The colony was not nearly as strong and developed as the other colonies, so the other colonies did not take it very seriously.

== Economic System ==

== Economic System ==