1692 · St. Mary's City, Maryland, USA
Catholic Rights Revoked in Maryland
In 1692, following the Glorious Revolution in England, Maryland's Catholic-friendly government was overthrown and replaced with a Protestant establishment that stripped Catholics of political rights, religious freedom, and the ability to worship publicly.
Maryland had been founded in 1634 as a haven for English Catholics. The Calvert family, who held the charter, had established a policy of religious toleration that was remarkable for its time — the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 was one of the earliest legal protections for religious freedom in the Americas. But in 1688, the Glorious Revolution in England deposed the Catholic King James II and put the Protestant William and Mary on the throne. The reverberations reached Maryland almost immediately. In 1689, a group of Protestant colonists led by John Coode staged an uprising, seized the government, and petitioned the crown to take control. By 1692, Maryland had been made a royal colony, and the Church of England was established as the official religion. Catholics were systematically excluded. They could not vote, hold office, or practice law. Catholic worship was restricted and eventually driven underground. Catholic schools were banned. A law was passed requiring Catholics to pay double taxes. Mass had to be said in private homes. The Jesuits who had served the colony from the beginning had to operate in secret. This went on for nearly a century, until the American Revolution. The irony was bitter. A colony founded specifically to protect Catholic freedom became one of the most restrictive places in British North America for Catholics to live. The experience shaped American Catholic identity for generations — a deep awareness of being a minority, a fierce attachment to religious liberty, and a determination to prove that Catholics could be loyal Americans.
Why it matters
Destroyed the only Catholic safe haven in British North America and imposed nearly a century of anti-Catholic restrictions that shaped American Catholic identity and commitment to religious freedom.
What Happened
Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Protestant colonists overthrew Maryland's Catholic-friendly government in 1689. By 1692, the colony had been placed under royal control and the Church of England was established as the official religion. Catholics lost the right to vote, hold office, or worship publicly. Mass was driven into private homes. Catholic schools were shut down. The Jesuits who had served the colony from the beginning were forced underground. These restrictions remained largely in effect until the American Revolution.
Why It Still Matters
The loss of Maryland taught American Catholics that religious freedom could not be taken for granted. It forged a community that understood what it meant to be a minority in a Protestant country. When the First Amendment was written a century later, Catholics were among its most enthusiastic supporters. The Maryland experience is also a reminder that toleration, once established, can be revoked — a fact that kept American Catholics politically engaged and deeply committed to the principle of church-state separation.