What effect?

[Vance R Koven]

I would disagree with your contention that the Mormon persecutions were
the first major religious persecution in US history, unless you narrowly
restrict US history to post-Revolutionary times. The expulsion/secession
of the Baptists from Massachusetts and the consequent establishment of
religious liberty in Rhode Island was perhaps the most significant factor
in establishing the climate in which the First Amendment became possible.

You could also look at the persecution of the Quakers in New England as
significant.

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On Mon, 16 Jun 1997, Robert O'brien wrote:

> As I continue studying the persecution of the Jehovah's Witnesses in in the
> '40s, I have become curious about contrasts between the effects of the
> first great religious persectution in America, that of the Mormon's, and
> the effects of the second great religious persecution, that of the JWs.
>
> My impression is that, except for polygamy laws, the Latter Day Saints have
> had almost no effect upon American law, whereas the JWs have been largely
> responsible for forming modern American church-state law. Am I in error?