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Lesson

Two Views of Religious Liberty: Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island

Duration
55 min
Grade
9–12
Published
Nov 5, 2020
Portrait of a man from the 17th century, featuring a ruffled collar and textured dark clothing.
What role did John Winthrop and Roger Williams play in American history? Compare and contrast competing models of religious liberty in the Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island colonies and assess the significance of each model to the American experiment in religious liberty.

Founding Principles

Freedom of Religion, Liberty

Learning objectives

  • Understand the place of John Winthrop and Roger Williams in American history.
  • Compare and contrast competing models of religious liberty in Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island.
  • Assess the significance of each model to the American experiment in religious liberty.

Materials

  • Essay: Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island—Two Models of Religious Liberty
  • Handout A: Club Identity Tickets
  • Handout B: Club Plans
  • Handout C: Reformers’ Plans
  • Handout D: Winthrop and Williams—Two Views of Religious Liberty
  • Handout E: Venn Diagram

Lesson Components

ActivityEssay: Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island – Two Models of Religious Liberty
ActivityHandout A: Club Identity Tickets
ActivityHandout B: Club Plans
ActivityHandout C: Reformers’ Plans
ActivityHandout D: Winthrop and Williams – Two Views of Religious Liberty
ActivityHandout E: Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island Venn Diagram
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Lesson plan

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