Rachel Evans
Maryland was founded in 1632 as a haven for English Catholics, who faced persecution and were barred from holding public office. The Calvert family, who were themselves Catholic, founded the colony, and Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore, was granted a charter by the King of England. This charter, which was frequently attacked by his enemies, emphasised the need for religious tolerance and privacy in religious observance for Catholics. Despite this, by the 1650s, Maryland ceased to be a haven for Catholics, and from 1692 until the Revolutionary War, the Church of England was the official state religion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Maryland was founded | 1632 |
| Founder | Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore |
| Reason for founding | To serve as a haven for persecuted English Catholics |
| Religious tolerance | Yes, initially |
| Duration of religious tolerance | Until the 1650s |
| Official state religion from 1692 | Church of England |
| Religious tolerance restored | After the American Revolution |
| Migration of Catholics from Maryland | To Nelson County, Kentucky, from 1780-1820 |
| Maryland's vote for the anti-Catholic Know-Nothing Party | 1856 |
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What You'll Learn
Maryland was founded as a haven for English Catholics
Maryland was founded in 1632 as a haven for English Catholics, who were facing persecution at the time. George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, planned the colony, and his son Cecil founded it. The Calverts were Catholics themselves and sought to protect Catholic settlers and those of other religions that did not conform to the dominant Anglicanism of England and its colonies.
The Maryland colonial charter, granted by the King of England, included what was often referred to as the "Durham Clause", which granted religious tolerance in the colony. The second Lord Baltimore emphasised this in his instructions to the governor and commissioners, stating that they should "suffer no scandal nor offence to be given to any of the Protestants" and that "all acts of Roman Catholic religion [were] to be done as privately as may be". He also instructed that the "Roman Catholics [were] to be silent upon all occasions of discourse concerning matters of religion".
Despite these instructions, religious tension persisted in Maryland. From 1669 to 1689, most councillors were Catholics, and many were related by blood or marriage to the Calverts, enjoying political patronage and lucrative offices. In response, Maryland Protestants organised into anti-Catholic militias, known as "associators". In 1689, an army of Protestant "associators", led by Colonel John Coode, defeated a proprietarial army led by a Catholic planter. This event, known as the Protestant Revolution or Coode's Rebellion, marked the end of Maryland's early experiments with religious tolerance, as Catholicism was outlawed and Catholics were forbidden from holding public office.
Maryland ceased to be a haven for Catholics by the 1650s, and from 1692 until the Revolutionary War, the Church of England was the official state religion. However, there continued to be some degree of religious tolerance, even as Catholics faced legal repression. It wasn't until after the American Revolution that religious tolerance was fully restored in Maryland.
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Religious tolerance in Maryland
Maryland was founded in 1632 as a "proprietary colony" by Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore. Lord Baltimore founded it as a haven for English Catholics, although this was not explicitly put in writing. Instead, the Maryland colonial charter granted by the King of England included something often referred to as the "Durham Clause". The Calverts intended the colony to function as a safe haven for English Catholics fleeing religious persecution and as a source of income for themselves and their descendants.
The enforcement of the charter in Maryland was entrusted to Lord Baltimore's brother, Leonard, who was named governor. In his instructions to the governor and commissioners, Lord Baltimore emphasized the need to preserve unity and peace among all the passengers on their voyage to Maryland. He instructed them to perform all acts of Roman Catholic religion as privately as possible and to treat the Protestants with mildness and respect.
In 1649, Maryland passed the Act of Religious Toleration, also known as the Maryland Toleration Act, which became a pioneering step in granting freedom of worship to all Christians. The Act allowed freedom of worship for all Trinitarian Christians in Maryland but sentenced to death anyone who denied the divinity of Jesus. This Act was ahead of its time and made Maryland a colony where all Christian groups could seek asylum.
However, the Act of Religious Toleration was revoked in 1654 by William Claiborne, a Virginian who had been appointed as a commissioner by Oliver Cromwell. Claiborne was strongly hostile to the Catholic religion. The Act was reinstated when the Calverts regained control of Maryland but was permanently repealed in 1692 following the Glorious Revolution and the Protestant Revolution in Maryland. From 1692 until the Revolutionary War, the Church of England was the official state religion in the colony, and Catholics faced legal repression.
Despite these challenges, Maryland's commitment to religious freedom endured. After the Revolutionary War, restrictions on Catholics eased, but they still faced discrimination and prejudice as a distinct religious minority. Maryland's history of religious tolerance continued to evolve, with protections enshrined in its 1867 State Constitution. Today, Maryland celebrates Religious Tolerance Day on January 16th, commemorating its pioneering role in advocating for the freedom to worship freely.
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Catholics facing legal repression
Maryland was founded in 1632 as a "haven" for English Catholics, who faced persecution. The colony was established by Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore, who was Catholic himself. However, this purpose was not explicitly stated in the colony's founding documents. Instead, the Maryland colonial charter included what became known as the "Durham Clause".
Despite the Calverts' intentions, religious tolerance in Maryland was not absolute. From the outset, Lord Baltimore instructed his brother, the governor, and two commissioners to ensure that "acts of Roman Catholic religion" were performed "as privately as may be" and that Catholics were to "be silent upon all occasions of discourse concerning matters of religion". This was to avoid offending the Protestant settlers, who were also encouraged to settle in Maryland, and to prevent complaints being made by Protestants in Virginia or England.
In the 1660s, Maryland began to experience economic problems as the price of tobacco, its staple crop and main source of export income, declined. This caused economic hardship, especially among the poor. In 1666, neighbouring Virginia proposed a one-year moratorium on tobacco growing to drive up prices, which Governor Charles Calvert initially agreed to, but later vetoed, realising it would hurt his poorest subjects the most. This decision angered the Virginians.
By the 1680s, Maryland Protestants, now a substantial majority in the colony, began to organise into anti-Catholic militias, known as "associators". They fed on rumours from England and feared Catholic plots, especially after the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688, which saw the Catholic monarch King James II replaced by the Protestant monarchs William III and Mary II.
In 1689, an army of 700 Protestant "associators", led by Colonel John Coode, defeated a Catholic army in what became known as the Protestant Revolution or Coode's Rebellion. This ended the rule of the Calvert family and marked the effective end of Maryland's early experiments with religious tolerance. Catholicism was outlawed, and Catholics were forbidden from holding public office. Religious tolerance would not be restored until after the American Revolution.
Even after the American Revolution, Catholics in Maryland still faced discrimination and prejudice as a distinct religious minority in Anne Arundel County. Maryland's vote for former President Millard Fillmore in 1856, a Whig politician known for his anti-Catholic stance, further demonstrates the legal and social repression faced by Catholics in the state.
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Protestants arming themselves against Catholics
In the early 17th century, a group of English Catholics established a colony in the province of Maryland, which would become the state of Maryland in the United States. This migration took place between 1634 and 1640, with the Catholic settlers seeking religious freedom and economic opportunity in the New World. The Maryland colony was founded by George Calvert, the first Baron Baltimore, who envisioned a haven for Catholics facing persecution in England.
However, by the 1680s, tensions were rising in Maryland as the Protestant population began to outnumber the Catholics. The Protestants, primarily composed of Puritans and Anglicans, felt threatened by the presence of Catholics in positions of power and sought to restrict their influence. They feared that the Catholic Church, with its hierarchical structure and allegiance to the Pope, posed a threat to their religious and political freedoms. In response to this perceived threat, the Protestants began arming themselves, both literally and metaphorically, to counter Catholic influence and assert their dominance in the colony.
The arming of the Protestants took on several forms. Firstly, they began to organize themselves militarily. Protestant militias were formed, and men received training in the use of firearms and other weapons. They stockpiled arms and ammunition, ensuring they had the means to defend themselves and, if necessary, take offensive action. These militias provided a show of force and served as a deterrent against any potential Catholic aggression or attempts to seize control.
Additionally, Protestants also armed themselves politically and legally. They lobbied for changes in the colony's governance, seeking to limit Catholic influence in the legislative and executive branches. This involved proposing and supporting laws that restricted Catholic rights and privileges, such as barring them from holding certain offices or serving on juries. They also worked to gain control of local governments and town councils, ensuring that Protestant interests were represented and promoted at all levels of colonial administration.
The Protestants also utilized propaganda and religious rhetoric to further their cause. They published pamphlets and sermons that portrayed Catholics as a threat to Protestant values and liberty. They emphasized the differences between the two faiths, often exaggerating and distorting Catholic beliefs and practices to stoke fear and rally support for their cause. This propaganda campaign served to unite the Protestant community and justify their actions in defending their religious and civil rights.
Finally, the Protestants also established their educational institutions to counter Catholic influence. They founded schools and colleges, such as the Protestant-run King William's School in Annapolis, to provide a Protestant-centric education and instill their values in the younger generation. By arming themselves with knowledge and a strong religious foundation, they sought to counter the influence of Catholic schools and ensure the perpetuation of their beliefs and traditions.
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Catholics losing political power
Maryland was founded in 1632 as a proprietary colony of Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore, a Catholic himself. It was primarily a haven for persecuted English Catholics, but it also welcomed Protestants as settlers. George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, sought enactment of the law to protect Catholic settlers and those of other religions that did not conform to the dominant Anglicanism of England and her colonies.
However, by the 1650s, Maryland ceased to be much of a haven for Catholics. The enforcement of the charter in Maryland was entrusted to Lord Baltimore's brother, Leonard, who was advised by two older commissioners. In his instructions, Lord Baltimore emphasised that acts of Roman Catholic religion were to be done as privately as possible, and that Catholics were to be silent on matters of religion to avoid offending Protestants.
In the 1660s, Maryland began to face economic problems as the price of tobacco, its staple crop and chief source of export income, declined. This caused economic hardship, especially among the poor. Governor Charles Calvert initially agreed to Virginia's proposal of a one-year moratorium on tobacco growing to drive up prices but later vetoed the bill, realising that it would burden his poorest subjects. This, along with growing economic problems, aggravated Calvert's rule as governor.
From 1669 to 1689, most councillors were Catholics, many of whom were related by blood or marriage to the Calverts and enjoyed political patronage. In response, Maryland Protestants organised into anti-Catholic militias known as "associators". Conflict between Calvert and his subjects arose over the question of how far English law should be applied in Maryland and the degree of prerogative exercised by the proprietary government outside of the law.
In 1688, the "Glorious Revolution" in England saw the Protestant monarchs William III and Mary II replace the English Catholic monarch, King James II. The following year, in the summer of 1689, Maryland Protestants, now a substantial majority in the colony, revolted against the proprietary government led by the Catholic Charles Calvert. An army of seven hundred Protestant citizen soldiers, known as "Protestant Associators", defeated a proprietarial army led by a Catholic planter. This event, also known as Coode's Rebellion, marked the end of Maryland's early experiments with religious toleration as Catholicism was outlawed, and Catholics were forbidden from holding public office. For the next 25 years, Maryland would be ruled directly by the Crown.
After the American Revolution, restrictions on Catholics eased, but they still faced discrimination and prejudice as a distinct religious minority in Anne Arundel County. In the 19th century, Maryland was the only state to vote for the virulently anti-Catholic Know-Nothing Party, reflecting the loss of political power for Catholics in the state.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics first moved to Maryland in 1632 when it was founded by Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore, as a "proprietary colony".
Maryland was founded primarily as a haven for persecuted English Catholics.
No, although religious tolerance was initially planned for Maryland, the Protestant Revolution of 1689 saw the end of this.
The Protestant Revolution, also known as Coode's Rebellion, was when Protestants in Maryland revolted against the proprietary government led by the Catholic, Charles Calvert.
Maryland was ruled directly by the Crown for the next 25 years, and Catholicism was outlawed. Religious tolerance was not restored until after the American Revolution.
