Act of Toleration

Background

In 1649 the Act of Toleration was passed by Maryland’s local representative assembly. It guaranteed religious toleration for all Christians, but said that all others should be given the death penalty. Maryland had more freedom of religion before this Act was passed, but it was passed by a majority of Catholics who were starting to feel as though they were as restricted in the New World as they used to be in the Old World. Because of this Act, after the colonial era, Maryland had one of the largest Catholic populations.


Significance

• Maryland came to have one of the largest Catholic populations.