Roger Williams, a Puritan minister and theologian, was a vocal critic of the religious and political practices of the Plymouth Colony in the 17th century. He believed in the separation of church and state, and he advocated for religious tolerance. As a result of his disagreements with the colony's leaders, he was banished in 1635.
After his banishment, Williams founded the Providence Plantations, which would later become the state of Rhode Island. The Providence Plantations was a haven for religious freedom and tolerance, and it attracted settlers from all over New England. Williams's commitment to religious freedom helped to shape the religious landscape of the United States.