FREE ESSAY ON ROGER WILLIAMS

ROGER WILLIAMS

One of the most notable people of the colonial era in America was Roger Williams. Born in
London, England; educated at the University of Cambridge, he became one of the key
players in the Religious controversies of his time. In February of 1631, Roger Williams
immigrated to New England as a refuge for the persecuted Puritans of England. Shortly
after his arrival in Boston, Williams obtained an appointment as a teacher in Salem,
Massachusetts. But because Williams had some strong arguments against the Religious
teachings sought in Salem at that time, he quickly found himself in conflict with the
local government. This situation happened repeatedly in the Plymouth Colony. 
One of the major conflicts Williams had with local authorities of New England was that he
disagreed with some concepts of the Massachusetts Bay charter. One of these disagreements
questioned the colony authorities to repossess Native American lands without
compensation. The other conflict was with the lack of Religious freedom among the
colonies. 
When in Boston, he rejected an invitation to serve as the temporary pastor, due to the
fact that the church had not officially severed any ties with the Church of England. He
then obtained an appointment as teacher of the church in Salem, Massachusetts, but due to
the fact that Williams had a big disagreement with Boston authorities about religion
differences he went to be the assistant pastor of the Plymouth Colony. In the year of
1633 he was able to come back into Salem and be an assistant teacher. One year later he
was promoted back as a full time teacher. However his firm beliefs proved too strong to
be supressed by the government. In that same year the Massachusetts general court
banished Williams from the colony, imprisoning him for two years until his escape from
deportation authorities in 1636. He then began a journey to Narragansett Bay. 
In Narragansett he became friendly with the local Indians. He even studied their
language. Williams bought land from the Indians, where he would find the colonies of
Providence and Rhode Island. At the time he called it "for God's merciful providence unto
me in my distress". This colony became everything that Roger stood for: freedom of
religion, and separation of church and state. Every household in the colony received an
even share of land and had a say in how they were governed.
Roger Williams was known not only for his controversial religious and political views but
for his talent in writing as well. Between 1643 and 1645 he wrote and published three
remarkable works on the nature and jurisdiction of civil government. In 1654 he was
elected president of the colony. Roger Williams will always be noted for his remarkable
contributions to democratic and religious freedom in the Americas.