In 1649, Maryland passed the Maryland Toleration Act in its colonies. This act allowed some religious freedom.
Many colonists in Maryland started as catholic. As the colonies grew more and more protestants and other religions moved in. Worried about what might happen to them, the colonists decided to pass the Maryland Toleration Act. This act allowed for all who declared Jesus the Christ to worship. It prohibited any other religion. While not complete religious freedom, they took a step in the right direction.
This act lasted a few years before they repealed it. Several other toleration acts passed into law until our religious freedom of today. Now all can worship who, where, when, and what they want.
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