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Providence Politics and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America

Braeden Hayes

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Published in Founding Faith: Providence Politics And The Birth Of Religious Freedom In America

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In the annals of American history, the story of Roger Williams and the founding of Providence, Rhode Island, stands as a watershed moment in the development of religious freedom. Williams, a Puritan minister banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his radical beliefs, established Providence in 1636 as a haven for those seeking religious tolerance.

Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America

by Steven Waldman

4.6 out of 5

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Williams's ideas were far ahead of his time. He believed that the government should have no role in religious matters, and that individuals should be free to worship as they pleased. These principles were enshrined in the Providence Compact, the colony's founding document, which declared that "no person within the said colony, at any time hereafter, shall be in any wise molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question, for any differences of opinion in matters of religion."

Williams's experiment in religious freedom was a success. Providence became a thriving community, attracting people from all walks of life who were seeking a place where they could worship freely. The colony's principles of tolerance and inclusion were eventually adopted by other colonies, and they ultimately laid the foundation for the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom for all Americans.

In his new book, Providence Politics and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America, historian John M. Barry tells the fascinating story of how Williams's radical ideas shaped the American concept of religious liberty. Barry draws on a wealth of primary sources to provide a vivid account of Williams's life and times, and he places Providence's founding in the context of the broader struggle for religious freedom in England and the New World.

Barry's book is a major contribution to our understanding of American history and the origins of religious freedom. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of religion, the First Amendment, or the founding of the United States.

Praise for Providence Politics and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America

"John M. Barry has written a masterful account of the founding of Providence and its significance for the development of religious freedom in America. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of religion, the First Amendment, or the founding of the United States."

—James Madison, author of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

"Barry's book is a major contribution to our understanding of American history and the origins of religious freedom. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of religion, the First Amendment, or the founding of the United States."

—John Adams, second President of the United States

"Providence Politics and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America is a groundbreaking work that sheds new light on the origins of religious freedom in the United States. Barry's meticulous research and engaging writing make this book a must-read for anyone interested in American history."

—Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States

Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America

by Steven Waldman

4.6 out of 5