Rights+and+Freedoms+Group+2

=Rights and Religion=

Freedom of Religion
The freedom of religion was first observed in the colony of Maryland, in 1649. An act was passed called “the Maryland Toleration Act”. This act stated you can’t be discriminated or discounted because of his or her religion. After this law was passed Catholics began to openly practice their religion. This brought outrage to the Protestants. The law was soon repealed by Protestant assembly men. It was replaced with a law keeping Catholics from openly practicing their religion. This would be in effect until 1658 when the Maryland Toleration Act was passed again. This time it would last until 1692. This was due to the glorious revolution of 1689, were much new legislation was passed. The Catholics freedom of religion was even greater inhibited in 1704 when a law was passed making it impossible for a catholic to hold political office. Full religious freedom would not be restored until the American Revolution.

Freedom of Speech
Most of the controls placed on free speech in Colonial America dealt with religion and blasphemy. For example in 1612, a Virginia governor declared the death penalty for a person that denied the Holy Trinity. In 1646 a law was passed Massachusetts which made it illegal to deny the immortality of the soul. (The immortality of the soul is a belief found in most mainstream Christian religions stating that the soul will continue in existence after the dissolution of the body).



The Glorious Revolution
In 1685, King James the second approved legislation to create a dominion of New England placing colonies south through New Jersey under its jurisdiction. This would tighten the king’s control over the colonies. When word of the Glorious Revolution (1688-1689) arrived in Boston, the people would over through their governor, Sir Edmund Andros. The Glorious Revolution had a large impact on the colonies politics. The colonists gained the right to vote on taxes and expenditures. They gained the right to initiate legislation, instead of just responding to the proposals of the governors.



Right of Slaves
In 1619 the first African Slaves were brought to North America. At first they were treated as indentured servants. Some even won their freedom by fulfilling a work contract. But as time went on farmers wanted to increase production, which required a larger work force. It would too much to pay them; they needed a free work force. Farmers in colonial America would then own many slaves instead of just one or two. Slaves were not treated as people, they were considered live stock. African Children that were born inherited the status of the mother whether it was in slavery or contracted. They were often beaten, starved and mistreated in disgusting ways. Although most of the time, slaves were allowed to marry, and have their children baptized. Once Slaves were married they were usually not broken up by trade.



//History of Slavery//. N.d. Photograph. ocf.berkeley.eduWeb. 13 Feb 2012. .

//An Interview with John Fea on the Historian's Public Role and the Christian Nation Debate //. 2011. Photograph. history.blogspot.com

Edward Vallance. //The Glorious Revolution //. 2011. Photograph. BBC