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Which law, passed in 1649, called for freedom of worship for all Christians? a) Act of Toleration b) Mayflower Compact c) Navigation Act d) Salem Witch Trials Act

User Alvis
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Final answer:

The Act of Toleration, passed in 1649, called for freedom of worship for all Christians. It was a pioneering law marking progress towards religious freedom, although it did not extend to non-Christians or those who denied Christ's divinity. The Mayflower Compact, Navigation Act, and Salem Witch Trials Act did not deal with religious freedom.

Step-by-step explanation:

The law passed in 1649 that called for freedom of worship for all Christians was the Act of Toleration. This directive was passed in the Maryland colony in an attempt to settle disputes amongst the numerous Christian sects present at the time. It was a significant stride towards religious freedom during a period when religious persecution was common place, albeit this law had its limitations as it didn't extend to non-Christians or those individuals who didn't believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Many other pieces of legislation dealing with religious freedoms or tolerance were subsequently passed in different jurisdictions, such as the English Toleration Act of 1689 mentioned in the reference text, but these were different and separate from the 1649 Act of Toleration. For example, the Mayflower Compact, while integral to the establishment of a functioning civil society by the early Pilgrims, was not a law per se and primarily dealt with issues of governance rather than specifically guaranteeing religious freedom.

Similarly, the Navigation Act and Salem Witch Trials Act did not address religious freedom. The former was related to trade and commerce, while the latter was part of an unfortunate period of history when fear and misunderstanding led to the prosecution of many innocent individuals on the charges of witchcraft.

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User Rurouni
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