Patriot Echoes – Exploring 250 years of patriot heritage.
- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
Maryland Toleration Act (1649)
Introduction
Passed on April 21, 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act—also known as the Act Concerning Religion—was the first law in British North America to mandate religious tolerance for Trinitarian Christians. Enacted by the Maryland General Assembly under Lord Baltimore, it sought to preserve peace in a religiously diverse colony.
Core Provisions
- Guaranteed freedom of worship for Trinitarian Christians
- Imposed death, whipping, or fines for blasphemy against the Holy Trinity
- Protected Catholics and Protestants, but excluded non-Trinitarians
- Authorized enforcement by the Lord Proprietary
Impact and Legacy
The Act was a milestone in religious liberty, influencing later colonial statutes and the First Amendment. Though repealed and reinstated multiple times, it remains a symbol of early efforts to balance faith and freedom.
Sources:
American Battlefield Trust – Primary Source
Wikipedia – Maryland Toleration Act
Teaching Legal History – Act Text
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