October 9, 1635 — Roger Williams is banished from Massachusetts
The Puritan colony banished the minister Roger Williams for preaching religious liberty and separation of church and state. He founded Rhode Island as a refuge where no one would be punished for their beliefs — planting, a century and a half early, one of the ideas that would end up in the First Amendment.
Common Questions About October 9
What happened on October 9 in American history?
In 1635: Roger Williams is banished from Massachusetts. The Puritan colony banished the minister Roger Williams for preaching religious liberty and separation of church and state.
Why is October 9 significant?
The Puritan colony banished the minister Roger Williams for preaching religious liberty and separation of church and state. He founded Rhode Island as a refuge where no one would be punished for their beliefs — planting, a century and a half early, one of the ideas that would end up in the First Amendment.
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