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An Analysis of Five Historic Documents

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An Analysis of Five Historic Documents
Document 1: The Intolerant Act of Toleration (1649) A. Lord Baltimore, who founded Maryland as a refuge for Catholics, created laws that protected Catholics from Jews and Atheists. “That whatever person within this province shall blaspheme God, curse him, deny our Savior, Jesus Christ, or shall deny the Holy Trinity, or the unity of the Godhead…. Shall be punished with death and confiscation or forfeiture of all their lands and goods”. “Persons who shall use reproachful speech about Blessed Virgin Mary, or Holy Apostles shall forfeit 5 pounds sterlings” Death or worse if more serious crime B. I think religion was a big part of the Maryland colony, because they made so many strict laws about it. I do not think it was an established religion, because they honored so many different religions (any religion that believes in Jesus Christ and God), that the tax money would have to go to different religious institutes. I infer the laws were mainly made to protect the Catholics and other religions that believe in Jesus Christ by persecuting/fining those who do not.

Document 2: The Mayflower Compact A. Pilgrims land in New England Nov 1620, not legally allowed to be there, write Mayflower Compact. “Solemnly and mutually in the presence of God”, “by the grace of God” B. From what I read in the document, I think religion played a big role in the life of the colony, especially as how the almost all the Pilgrims were from the same religion, but religion was not mentioned frequently (if at all) in the document. The document was mainly about democracy, and how they came there, and whose name they gathered in (God, Britain, France, Ireland).

Document 3: The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut A. January 1639, signed by residents of Windsor, Hartford, Wethersfield. “We have gathered together the word of God that requires us to maintain the peace and union” “To remain and preserve the liberty and purity of the gospel of our Lord, Jesus, which we now profess

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