Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Roger Williams is recognized as the founder of the colony of Rhode Island. He established the colony in 1636 after being expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony due to his views on religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Williams advocated for the fair treatment of Native Americans and believed that individuals should have the liberty to practice any religion without government interference. This progressive stance, particularly in a time when many colonies enforced strict religious conformity, laid the groundwork for the establishment of Rhode Island as a haven for dissenters and a model of religious tolerance.

While Thomas Jefferson, John Smith, and William Penn were influential in their respective colonies, their contributions do not pertain to the founding of Rhode Island. Jefferson is primarily associated with Virginia and the Declaration of Independence, Smith is known for his role in establishing Jamestown, and Penn founded Pennsylvania as a refuge for Quakers and those seeking religious freedom.