In this episode of Dave Does History, we explore the banishment of Roger Williams from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635. Williams’ radical ideas about religious freedom, the separation of church and state, and the rights of Native Americans put him at odds with the colony’s Puritan leadership. We’ll cover the events leading to his expulsion, his daring escape, and his founding of Providence, Rhode Island—a haven for religious tolerance. Learn how Williams’ legacy shaped the fundamental values of America as we know it today.
Welcome back to Dave Does History. Today, we’re diving into a story of rebellion, religious freedom, and the founding of one of America’s most unique colonies. It’s the story of Roger Williams—banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony on October 9, 1635, for spreading what were considered “new and dangerous ideas.” But these dangerous ideas, like the separation of church and state and freedom of religion, are at the core of what we now hold dear in this country.
So, how did a devout Christian like Williams become public enemy number one for the Puritans? Why did he go on to become the founder of the colony of Rhode Island, a place of religious tolerance? And what’s the legacy of this man who refused to conform to the status quo?
Let’s start at the beginning.
Now, to understand Roger Williams’ story, you need to know a bit about the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Picture it: It’s the early 1630s, and Puritans are fleeing England to establish what they hoped would be a shining example of a Christian commonwealth. They didn’t just want to escape religious persecution; they wanted to build a society that was entirely based on their religious beliefs—a “city upon a hill,” as they liked to call it.
Sounds noble, right? But here’s the kicker: that vision didn’t include freedom of religion. You either followed their version of Christianity, or you were in trouble. If you thought outside the box—or, worse, preached outside the box—you were seen as a threat to the whole community. And that brings us to Roger Williams.
So who was this troublemaker, Roger Williams? Well, Roger was an English-born Puritan minister. He arrived in Massachusetts in 1631, a few years after the colony had really started to take shape. Now, Williams wasn’t some radical trying to dismantle religion. He was a devout Christian, deeply committed to his faith. But—and it’s a big “but”—his views on that faith clashed with the colony’s leadership in a big way.
Williams believed in something that would later become one of the core principles of America: the separation of church and state. He thought it was wrong—morally and biblically wrong—for the government to interfere in matters of faith. He argued that people should be free to follow their own consciences when it came to religion, without fear of punishment from the state. In Puritan Massachusetts, this idea was pretty much heresy.
Now, it wasn’t just the separation of church and state that got him into trouble. Williams had another bombshell view: He believed that the land the Puritans were living on wasn’t rightfully theirs. He criticized the colonial charters that gave them claim to the land, arguing that they should have properly compensated the Native Americans. He even went so far as to say that the King of England had no right to grant land that didn’t belong to him in the first place.
This did not go over well with the colony’s leaders. The Puritans saw their charters as divinely ordained, and here was this guy saying, “Nope, you’re wrong, and you need to make amends with the Native people.” Needless to say, that made him a pretty unpopular guy.
Governor John Winthrop and the other leaders started to see Williams as a major threat, not just to their authority, but to the colony’s very survival. After all, if word got back to England that the colony was questioning royal authority, they’d have a whole other set of problems on their hands.
By 1635, the conflict had come to a head. The colony’s court formally charged Roger Williams with spreading “new and dangerous ideas.” And when we say dangerous, we’re talking ideas that could tear apart the very fabric of their community—at least in their minds. They summoned him to court, and after a series of heated discussions, they made their decision: banishment.
Now, here’s the thing: Williams didn’t just get kicked out with a handshake and a “good luck out there.” He was ordered to leave the colony in the middle of winter—pretty much a death sentence in New England if you didn’t have the right connections or resources. But Williams, being the sharp guy he was, got word of this ahead of time. So, before the court could toss him out, he slipped away into the wilderness, helped by his friends among the local Native American tribes.
This is where the next chapter of his life begins.
Williams wasn’t done. In fact, his most famous work was just beginning. He fled to the area that would become modern-day Rhode Island and, in 1636, founded the settlement of Providence. What made Providence different? It was built on the very principles that got him banished: complete religious freedom and a strict separation of church and state.
Anyone who wanted to practice their faith—whatever faith that was—could do so in Providence without fear of persecution. Catholics, Jews, Quakers, Baptists—everyone was welcome. It was a radical idea in a time when religious conformity was the rule just about everywhere else.
Williams also maintained strong relations with the Native Americans, particularly the Narragansett tribe. He learned their language, treated them as equals, and bought land from them fairly. This was unheard of at the time, and it cemented his legacy as one of the most forward-thinking men of his day.
Now, let’s talk legacy. Williams’ ideas may have been seen as radical in 1635, but today, they form the backbone of what we consider American values. The separation of church and state? You can thank Roger Williams for that. Religious freedom? Again, Williams was one of the first in America to truly advocate for it, not just for Christians, but for all people.
His little settlement in Rhode Island became a haven for religious dissenters from all over the colonies, and it was one of the few places in the early Americas where people of different faiths could live together in relative harmony.
As time went on, Williams’ influence grew. His writings on religious liberty would later inspire the framers of the Constitution, particularly the First Amendment. The idea that government should have no role in religion—that was Williams, years before it became mainstream.
Roger Williams was a man ahead of his time. Banished for daring to believe that faith should be free and that the state had no business in the church, he turned his exile into an opportunity to create something new—a place where liberty, religious freedom, and justice could thrive.
And in doing so, he left a legacy that resonates to this day, not just in Rhode Island, but across the entire United States.
The next time you hear about the First Amendment, or religious freedom, remember Roger Williams—the rebel Puritan who refused to back down and changed the course of American history.
Thanks for listening to Dave Does History. Be sure to join us next time when we take a trip to France and one of the most significant battles in history, one that shaped the world we live in today. Until then, stay curious, stay informed, and, as always, keep asking questions.
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