Final answer:
Maryland was initially founded as a haven for English Catholics, but the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 and the arrival of Protestant settlers diversified the colony's religious base and led to tensions between the Catholic minority in power and the Protestant majority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The establishment of Maryland as a haven for English Catholics led to an unintended outcome. Despite its origins as a haven for Catholics, two significant factors contributed to the diversification of Maryland's religious base: the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649, which guaranteed religious freedom to all Christians, and the subsequent influx of Protestant settlers.
The Toleration Act, a progressive piece of legislation for its time, made Maryland more attractive to non-Catholic Christians fleeing religious persecution. As Maryland's population became predominantly Protestant, the Catholic minority in power found it more challenging to maintain their exclusive control, leading to tensions and eventual rebellion.
Moreover, the proprietary colony structure and active migration of Puritan Protestants from Virginia and New England demanded greater participation in government, further contributing to religious plurality and dissent in the colony.