Maryland Steps Forward

In 1632, George Calvert, as the first Lord Baltimore was granted Maryland. He died, however, during the time the charter was being prepared. Following Calvert's death, the charter was made in the name of his son, Cecilius Calvert, who became the second Lord Baltimore. And now, a relatively new religious group was about to be introduced to America. The Calverts were Roman Catholics.

A Catholic Haven

One of the Calverts' major aims for establishing Maryland in the New World, other than making lots and lots of money, was to provide a haven in America for Catholics.

As proprietors to the 10 million acres they had been granted, the Calverts were, in effect, feudal lords over their vast domain. It was within their lawful power to set up manors, complete with manorial courts. They could make the laws and enforce them, as long as these laws were not contrary to English laws. They could collect rents and taxes from those they had rented land to. The Calvert power even extended to enacting regulations governing the colony's commerce.

Maryland Extends Religious Freedom

Although the Calverts' idea was to make a refuge for Catholics in America they did not expect that Maryland would be settled by Catholics alone. It was even doubtful that Catholics would be the dominant religion in Maryland. There was just not enough Catholics that wished to migrate to the New World to make this possible.

Realizing that to provide a refuge for Catholics in a land where they would surely be in the minority, the Calverts succeeded in getting an Act of Toleration passed by the Maryland legislature in 1649.

Colonial America series continues with:

Maryland and Religious Freedom .

Previous: American Distension Spreads .

The copyright of the article Maryland Steps Forward in American History is owned by Mary Trotter Kion. Permission to republish Maryland Steps Forward in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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