Freedom Ride

Were Americans ever intolerant of different religions before the bill of rights legally allowed freedom of religion?

not in some places. Rhode Island was founded by a group who found the Puritans too unaccepting for example. Up to the Revolutionary war most churches were Anglican. In the northern states their were some Presbyterian and Methodist groups scattered about. Before the revolution preachers were supposed to get a license from the throne to preach. Churches in the didn’t worry too much about this, as very few non-Anglican priests were given licenses anyway. In the south the Anglican church fought the encroachment of their religious monopoly by sending militia or even mobs to arrest, beat or even kill non licensed priests. The Methodist and Presbyterian leaders in the South were looked at as a huge threat because they drew large crowds from the poor and even from slaves who embraced the idea that you could get to heaven through a personal relationship with God and not have to go through the Anglican institution which was more for the land owners anyway.

2 Responses

1. pizza369m Says:
   March 29th, 2010 at 1:40 am

   I believe that the Puritans in Massachusetts were not very tolerant to other religions.
   References :

2. Herky 1966 Says:
   March 29th, 2010 at 2:25 am

   not in some places. Rhode Island was founded by a group who found the Puritans too unaccepting for example. Up to the Revolutionary war most churches were Anglican. In the northern states their were some Presbyterian and Methodist groups scattered about. Before the revolution preachers were supposed to get a license from the throne to preach. Churches in the didn’t worry too much about this, as very few non-Anglican priests were given licenses anyway. In the south the Anglican church fought the encroachment of their religious monopoly by sending militia or even mobs to arrest, beat or even kill non licensed priests. The Methodist and Presbyterian leaders in the South were looked at as a huge threat because they drew large crowds from the poor and even from slaves who embraced the idea that you could get to heaven through a personal relationship with God and not have to go through the Anglican institution which was more for the land owners anyway.
   References :

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