Decline St._Mary's_City,_Maryland

1 decline

1.1 1689: watershed eruption of religious conflict
1.2 1690s: catholics lost right vote, other anti-catholic policies implemented
1.3 relocation of maryland capital
1.4 anti-catholic policies , discrimination in 18th century
1.5 abandonment of city

decline
1689: watershed eruption of religious conflict

in 1698, forty years after passage of maryland toleration act, sectarian tensions between protestants , catholics became great protestant settlers revolted against lords baltimore in protestant uprising in maryland. english crown took on maryland colony , appointed royal governors, replacing calverts.

legally mandated religious tolerance abolished, first royal decree , later law passed majority-protestant state assembly, in new capital in annapolis.

1690s: catholics lost right vote, other anti-catholic policies implemented

in 1692 catholics in maryland colony lost right vote. catholics no longer allowed worship in public , worship in private homes. laws passed limiting new roman catholic immigration colony.

although catholic person’s right vote in maryland reinstated state assembly decades later, other forms of discrimination against catholics continue through of next century , leave lasting religious tensions in maryland felt way through election of john f. kennedy past mid-20th century.

relocation of maryland capital

the new protestant maryland governor sir francis nicholson relocated capital st. mary s city more central annapolis (then called anne arundel town ) in 1695. colonial statehouse in st. mary s turned protestant church same year.

in 1695 st. peters freehold, former home of maryland governors in st. mary s city, destroyed in explosion. whether intentional act or accident not known, large gunpowder magazine had been stored in basement. freehold had briefly been home of new protestant governor francis nicholson until ordered colonial capital moved annapolis. prior freehold had been home of philip calvert, former catholic governor of maryland colony , cecil calvert s half-brother until death in 1682.

anti-catholic policies , discrimination in 18th century

during 18th century, catholics became persecuted minority group in maryland, including st. mary s county. catholics denied right serve in militia, taxed double when money had raised military, , continued discouraged immigrating. wealthy catholics became crypto-catholics (practicing religion in secret , sending children abroad catholic educations), poor catholics not afford , more vulnerable discrimination practices. consequently, on generations, many converted protestantism in order avoid discrimination. late 18th century, catholic population had dropped 9%.

abandonment of city

with seat of government gone, town lost reason exist. remaining inhabitants farmers. former town center converted agricultural land, , archaeological remains colonial town undisturbed in ground.