man could find the religion he sought, and having found it could practice it in his own way without molestation. This principle found expression in the establishment by the Baptists (1764) of Rhode Island College, now Brown University. The charter of that noble institution of learning expressly forbids the use of religious tests, and requires that not only Baptists, but Quakers, Episcopalians, and Congregationalists shall be included in the board of trustees.269 Eventually this broad principle of toleration obtained national expression in the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Whether the "soul liberty" enjoyed in Rhode Island suggested that amendment or not, it at least established a precedent for it. 127. Independent spirit of Rhode Island; resistance to Great Britain. It was inevitable that a colony which excluded no one should be at times tumultuous in its exercise of individual liberty. It was natural too that Massachusetts should be strongly prejudiced against a commonwealth established on principles of religious toleration by a man she had driven out. This feeling of personal independence, though at times pushed to extremes, did good service in the end. Governor Shirley of Massachusetts (1754) denounced it as the "spirit of mobbism." But later that spirit struck the keynote of the highest patriotism in its resistance to arbitrary rule. When (1764) England by her revival of restrictions on trade with the West Indies threatened the commercial ruin of both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, Stephen Hopkins, the Quaker Governor of Rhode Island, came out in vigorous defence of the American colonies. With unmistakable emphasis he declared that "the Parliament of Great Britain had no more right to make laws for the Rhode Islanders than they had to make them for the Mohawks." 270 In that spirit the sons of Rhode Island, led by General Greene, fought in the Revolution which established our national independence. 128. Summary.—Roger Williams planted the colony of Rhode Island on the basis of absolute religious freedom for all men. He obtained a royal charter which virtually gave the colony the power of self-government. After a time the right of suffrage was legally restricted to Protestants, but there was no interference with liberty of worship. From the outset the spirit of the colonists was vigorously independent, and manifested itself most effectively in the War of the Revolution. IX. NEW SWEDEN OR DELAWARE (1638). - The 129. First settlement on the Delaware; Christina. Dutch made a settlement on the Delaware (1631), but it was soon destroyed by the Indians. A number of years later Sweden resolved to get a share of the American continent, and to build up a "New Sweden," which should rival Holland's "New Netherland" and Britain's "New England." N Elizabeth 1665 4 PENNSYLV Philadelo ΑΝΙΑ JERSE Chester JERS Wilmingto 1638 Delaware R The Swedish Government engaged Ex-Governor Peter Minuit ($56) to take over a party of emigrants. They made a settlement (1638) on the western bank of the Delaware within what are now the city limits of Wilmington. The emigrants named. this settlement Christina, in honor of the young Queen of Sweden. It was the first permanent colony established in the Delaware Valley. The Dutch, however, had no idea of permitting the Swedes to get a foothold on territory which they claimed as their own. Governor Stuyvesant sailed with an expedition from New Amsterdam and compelled. (1655) the fort at Christina to surrender. The Dutch gave the Swedish colonists permission to remain in the country, and pledged themselves not to interfere with their freedom of worship.271 When the English captured ELAWARE MARYLAND OCEAN ($62) New Netherland (1664) this southern territory on the Delaware became part of the possessions of James, Duke of York. 130. William Penn purchases Delaware; its government; Delaware becomes independent; enters the Union. - After William Penn obtained (1680) his grant of Pennsylvania he was anxious to secure a frontage on the Atlantic. In order to accomplish this he purchased (1682) the region then called the "Three Counties upon the Delaware" from the Duke of York. Penn annexed these three counties to his province and named them the "Territories of Pennsylvania"; they were governed as part of that province until 1701. The people of the "Territories" then succeeded in getting a charter from Penn under which they established a Legislature of their own.272 That charter followed the "Frame of Government" of Pennsylvania and was equally liberal in its terms. It granted: (1) Freedom of worship to all who believed in "One Almighty God"; (2) No one could be required to contribute toward the support of any form of religion to which he conscientiously objected; (3) All persons who professed belief in Jesus Christ, and who solemnly promised allegiance to the King, and fidelity to the Proprietor and to the Governor of Pennsylvania were eligible to office. In 1776 the inhabitants of the "Territories of Pennsylvania" declared themselves an independent State. They took the name of Delaware from that of the river forming their northeast boundary. In the battles of the Revolution no regiment fought more bravely than that popularly known as the "Blue Hen's Chickens," or the "Gamecocks of Delaware." The State, by a prompt, unanimous, and enthusiastic vote was the first in order of time to accept the Constitution, and to enter the new American Union so established.278 131. Summary. - Delaware was originally settled (1638) by the Swedes at Christina (now Wilmington), but the Dutch from New Netherland soon got possession of the province. After the conquest of New Netherland by the English, Delaware was purchased from the Duke of York by William Penn, who annexed it to his province of Pennsylvania. Eventually, the people of Delaware obtained a charter from Penn, and established a Legislature of their own. In 1776 they declared themselves independent of Great Britain, and took an active part in the Revolution. Delaware was the first State to accept the Constitution and to enter the American Union. X.-XI. NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA (1663). 132. Charles II. grants "Carolina "; settlements in that region. Charles I. by his grant of Maryland (1632) had greatly reduced the area of Virginia on the north; his son Charles II. cut off a still larger slice from the original territory of the "Old Dominion." the province Carolina, in years later (1665) Charles extended this grant half a degree further north, and, in open defiance of the claims of Spain, pushed the boundary on the south until it not only included. the ancient Spanish city of St. Augustine (§ 23) but overlapped it by nearly seventy miles.275 The Proprietors of this vast province might make all needful laws, provided they received "the approbation" of a majority of the freemen of the colony.276 They might also grant such religious liberty as they thought "fit and reasonable." 277 Emigrants from Virginia had already moved into this country and settled (1653) on the Chowan River, or Albemarle district. Later (1665), Englishmen coming from the Barbadoes formed a settlement at Cape Fear, or the Clarendon district. When George Fox ($95) pushed his way south across the Great Dismal Swamp (1672) and entered Carolina he received a warm welcome from certain Quakers who had fled there, and had built colonies on the Chowan River.278 133. "The Grand Model"; provisions respecting society, laws, religion. — The proprietors of Carolina adopted (1669) a cumbrous and complex constitution, popularly known as the "Grand Model." 1279 It was to stand forever, and could not be amended or altered. The "Grand Model" was mainly the work of the eminent English philosopher, John Locke. Feudalism had died a natural death in England, but Locke proposed to resurrect it, and transplant it in a modified form to the pine forests of the New World. Next The avowed object of the "Grand Model" was to "avoid erecting a numerous democracy," or to grant as little power to the people as possible. It aimed to build up a political and social pyramid. The base was formed of negro slaves, subject in all respects to the "absolute power" of their master.280 above the negroes came the white agricultural laborers. They were serfs of the soil; they had no right to vote, or even to leave the estate on which they worked, without permission of the owners. In that condition they and their children were to remain "to all generations." 281 Above these serfs came a class of well-to-do but untitled landholders who had the right to vote, and a voice in legislation.282 Above this class was the nobility, holding vast estates, descending from father to son forever.28 Finally a corpora |