Abstract

One must consider a wide range of elements to understand the character and significance of early American religious freedom. To illustrate its complexity, this chapter includes six sources illustrating different aspects of early American tolerance across a broad sweep of time and space. In addition to varying significantly from place to place as well as over time, early American tolerance changed according to the social and political context: whether or not Native Americans were in charge; whether or not slavery was involved; whether men or women were doing the tolerating; or whether the society was governed by British, Dutch, or US-American norms. Altogether, these sources show tolerance existed, but not everywhere, and not always alike. Out of these mixed origins early American religious freedom emerged.