Question

Rhode Island and the Massachusetts Bay Colony differed in that Rhode Island

• A. was a theocracy.
• B. was a royal colony.
• C. lacked religious freedom.
• D. practiced a policy of separation of church and state.
• E. was located in New England.

Answer 1

The correct option is D practiced a policy of separation of church and state.

Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, had been banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony because he disagreed with the government-supported church established there. He believed in the separation of church and state. It was Massachusetts that was a theocracy (A), not Rhode Island. Massachusetts was a royal colony (B), while Rhode Island was a self-governing colony. All groups, including Quakers, enjoyed religious freedom (C) in Rhode Island. Both colonies were located in New England (E).