Final answer:
The original 13 British colonies were started for religious freedom, with some colonies offering havens for religious dissenters. The variety of religious beliefs in the colonies led to an emphasis on freedom of religion from the early days of settlement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original 13 British colonies were primarily started for religious freedom. While this was particularly true in the middle and southern colonies, it was less true in the New England colonies. Massachusetts, for example, had strict Calvinist beliefs. Rhode Island, founded by Roger Williams, was established for the primary purpose of allowing religious diversity and tolerance.
Other colonies, such as Pennsylvania and Maryland, also offered havens for religious dissenters. The variety of religious beliefs in the colonies led to an insistence on freedom of religion since the earliest days of British settlement.