Final answer:
Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams were influential religious figures in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who were banished for their dissenting views and went on to play a role in the founding of Rhode Island, contributing to the history of religious freedom in America.
Step-by-step explanation:
Role of Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams in New England's History
Both Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams were originally members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony but were later banished for their religious beliefs and practices. Roger Williams was a Puritan minister who advocated for the separation of church and state, as well as fair dealings with Native Americans. His views were considered radical, and as a result, he was banished and went on to found Rhode Island, a colony that offered greater religious freedom. Anne Hutchinson, influenced by the preaching of John Cotton, adopted Antinomianism, a belief in the supremacy of personal faith over moral law and clerical authority. She was tried and banished from the colony for her religious convictions and criticisms of the Massachusetts clergy. Hutchinson eventually followed Williams to Rhode Island, continuing her practice of discussing and challenging religious doctrines.
Their banishments from Massachusetts Bay Colony were significant as they represented the conflicts within the Puritan community and the intolerance towards dissenting religious views. This intolerance was not limited to Hutchinson and Williams; it also extended to tragic events like the Salem witch trials. However, the Puritan colonies, despite such turmoil, managed to become robust economic and religious communities.