Why Rhode Island Was the Most Democratic Colony

Ameri apprise Essay The original thirteen colonies, from innovational Virginia, first settled in 1612, to the bountiful Carolinas originating in the year of 1670. In 1636, twenty four years after the formation of Virginia, the revolutionary Rhode Island came to be. though settled three-hundred and s regular(a) offty-six years ago, Rhode Island at that time, still holds similarities to what it means to be American today. America is synonymous with freedom, tolerance of those different, equality, and democracy.Rhode Island can be considered the close to American of both thirteen original colonies, because it supported breakaway government, near religious tolerance, and had a democracy from the start. Rhode Island may never have came to be, if non for Roger Williams. After being exiled from the Massachusetts verbalize Colony, for endorsement of a separatist movement, It was he who relocated to present day Rhode Island. At that time, Massachusetts, was a dependence ruled by Pur itans. These plurality were anti-separatists, which means that they did non recollect in the separation of church building and state.Any resident living in Massachusetts, regardless of phantasmal tie beam was required to pay taxes to the puritan church. The churches only when problem was non the requirement of taxes, but also their efforts to control opposite aspects of the colonists lives. Massachusetts had a certain kind of feel to it, and the Puritans wanted to prognosticate that it stay that way. Puritans felt threatened by whatsoever kind of encounter that did not fit perfectly with their view of what life should be deal in their dependance. For example, If two people were found to be showing any type of affection towards each other in public, they were fined.Puritans were once against the practice of ceremonies, or any type of event containing music. They believed that music was an expression not smooth enough for their way of life. Puritans refused to celebr ate various holidays, such as Christmas. They also would not allow certain staples of religious practice to be involved in their worship. Candles, or religious images were not permitted in church service. macrocosmy forms of entertainment were not allowed in Puritan villages. Gambling or other games of chance were turned. Plays of any genre were not allowed.Laughing in public was forbidden, because it suggested that diabolic or demonic spirits inhabited you. The Puritans worked to control every aspect of a persons life. Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, would have n adept of it. From the start Williams allowed Rhode Islanders many freedoms, as closely as creating a separatist government, in some ways, the first of its kind. Williams did not require citizens to attend church, and did not allow laws interfere with a individuals personal life. He believed that it was not the churches/governments right to control such things.though the people of Rhode island did pay taxes, these taxes went to the government, not a state church. The lack of these laws can be considered very American by modern standards. When looking at the solid ground now, one can train that there is an absence of laws re unrelentinging Humans actions and rights, aside from cruel and foul acts. Each individual has freedom of speech, and is allowed to express their ideas openly. The US does not outlaw many types of entertainment, music, holidays, or public displays of humor or affection. Rhode Island shares this in roughhewn with the present day US.The same cannot be said of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Rhode Island was one of only four colonies whose government did not have an formalized religion. The Carolinas, Maryland, in the altogether York, and Virginia all supported the Anglican church, spell Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire all chose to support the congregational church. This proves that Rhode Island was uniquely and unconscionably American for its time. Rh ode Island can again be considered American because of its practice of complete religious tolerance, this was unhearable of in close to other colonies in these times.Williams allowed anyone, regardless of religious affiliation to reside in the state. Jews, persecuted by al most(prenominal) every other habituation at the time, as well as Catholics were allowed to live in the boundaries of Rhode Island, and not fear punishment or persecution. Even the endlessly persecuted champions were allowed in Rhode Island. Quaker views were vastly different than that of leader Roger Williams, but he believed that they should not be persecuted for this difference in opinion. When looking at the views of other colonies, one can see that they did no share the same ideals. Maryland claimed to be conscientiously tolerant.Created as a refuge for Catholics, one would assume that a spotlight such as this would be tolerant of other religions, the Act of acceptation was passed in 1649, but was not a s welcoming as it sounded. While giving freedom to Christians, it also stated the right to persecute all Jews, or atheists with no religious affiliation. Massachusetts was wildly intolerant of not Christians, torturing and killing the Quakers, whom later fled to Rhode Island. All colonies supporting the Anglican church practiced religious tolerance to their fellow protestants, and in some cases even Catholics, but none would accept those who denied the divinity of Jesus.Congregational colonies were even more strict in their tolerance of other religions. Aside from religion, Rhode Island was also tolerant of people that for other reason would not be welcome elsewhere. Those like Williams who had evoke the leaders of their previous residence were welcomed there. Anne Hutchinson, whom was also exiled from the Bay Colony is a famous resident of Rhode Island. Her Ideals were far from that or Williams, but still she was welcomed in his colony. Both rich and poor could find a home in Rhod e island.It was unlike the sprawling plantations of South Carolina, or Virginia where the poor were exiled from being squatters on the land, or the large and powerful elites of aristocratic New York, controlling not just the government and economy, but the land as well. Rhode islands practice of tolerance, not only pertaining to religion, but also to the differing of ideals and economic status, again shows that Rhode Island is the most American of the thirteen colonies. A third reason that Rhode Island can be considered the most American colony was its voting system.Rhode Island gave all men, who owned airscrew and payed taxes on said property the right to vote. Regardless of Religion, a man had this right. This was unheard of in many colonies at the time. Anglican colonies such as South Carolina and Georgia, also allowed man holding men to vote, but only if they were of protestant religion. Some colonies were even more strict with their voting rights. In the Massachusetts Bay Colo ny the government could not even be considered a democracy. The Freemen held the right to elect the governor annually as well as his cabinet.The freemen however, were few and far viewween. Only puritans could be freemen, and they were not even desirable until they were declared visible saints. This is when, at church, god inhabits a person, which causes him to convulse, or perhaps speak in tongues. Because of this rule, only few men were eligible to vote in elections. Rhode Islands suffrage law, allowed a vast number of citizens to vote, which in turn made Rhode Island on of the most democratic of the colonies at the time. This again proves that Rhode Island was the most American of the Thirteen colonies.There are those that do not believe Rhode Island was the most American colony of our forefathers. Some may say that the most American colony was in fact Georgia. Evidence supports that this was not the case. Though Georgia supported separatist government, and did not affiliate wit h any one religion, they did however persecute certain religious groups. Catholics. The Jewish, and Atheists were discriminated against and persecuted in Georgia, because of this, these people did not have the right to vote in any election, only practicing protestants could embark in elections.These shortcomings of the Georgia colony disqualify it from being a really American colony. Rhode Island can easily be considered the most American colony for many reasons. Rhode Island participated in separatist government, practiced religious toleration towards all religions, and promoted suffrage for a large amount of people at the time. When someone is asked to describe America in three words, one is willing to bet that those three words would be freedom, tolerance, and equality. Rhode island had the right idea hundreds of years ago, and our country has been influenced by these simple ideas ever since.