Final answer:
Maryland was founded as a refuge for Catholics and to provide religious freedom for Christians, immediately differentiating itself in terms of religious tolerance. It was established with an economic focus on tobacco cultivation, requiring a labor force initially composed of indentured servants and later slaves, leading to the enactment of laws that formalized permanent slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary reason Maryland was founded was to serve as a haven for Catholics facing discrimination and harassment in England after the Protestant Reformation. The first Lord Baltimore envisioned Maryland as a proprietary colony where religious toleration for all Christians could be practiced, distinguishing it from other colonies which were often founded for economic gains or territorial expansion. Settled in 1634 under the governorship of Leonard Calvert, Maryland also focused on an economy based on the cash crop tobacco, using indentured servants, and later, enslaved Africans to meet labor demands.
Though Maryland's initial colonization provided more religious freedom and equitable treatment towards Indians, it eventually conformed to the economic pressures of its time. The need for labor led to the formation of a permanent slave class. Laws were enacted, like the one in 1664, ensuring slaves remained in bondage for life, regardless of their race or religion. This shift towards a plantation economy and the adoption of slavery were pivotal in the growth and development of Maryland.