Which colonial figure argued that God communicates directly to individuals, and who was banished from Massachusetts to Rhode Island in 1637, helping lay the foundation for religious liberty?

• A. William Penn
• B. John Adams
• C. Anne Hutchinson
• D. James Armistead

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is religious dissent in early New England and how it pushed toward religious liberty. Anne Hutchinson argued that God could communicate directly with individuals, meaning believers didn’t need the Puritan clergy as intermediaries to know God’s will. This challenged the authority of ministers and magistrates who enforced strict conformity.

In response, Massachusetts authorities banished Hutchinson in 1637, sending her to Rhode Island. Rhode Island, founded as a place of religious tolerance and separation of church and state, became a practical example of religious liberty in action. Hutchinson’s insistence on personal revelation and her banishment together highlight how dissenting voices contributed to the broader move toward religious freedom in colonial America.