The founders of the society, Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, having been religious dissenters themselves, made Rhode Island a refuge for those who sought freedom of faith. As such, Rhode Island surpassed all other colonies in cultural diversity. Jews, Quakers, Baptists, Catholics, and other protestant religious minorities practiced their beliefs and customs there.
Procession of Quakers in the streets of Rhode Island
SOCIETAL STRUCTURE
The social hierarchy that governed the roles of Rhode Island's citizens was fairly simple. The colony's workforce made the Lower Class. Sailors, laborers, servants, indentured servants, apprentices, and slaves were included in it. These people were mostly illiterate and they were not considered freeholders. Consequently, they did not have the right to vote or hold a position in the public office. The Middle Class was constituent of skilled tradesmen, small business owners, and anyone else who earned a living through a specialized profession. Unlike those in the Lower Class, people in the Middle Class were allowed to vote and hold a position in the colony's Assembly. The Upper Class consisted of aristocrats and wealthy men. Not only could these people vote, but they were able to hold a higher position in the public office, such as that of the Governor's Councilmen.
Rhode Island Colonists
However, Rhode Island's society was not absolute. Note that the class in which a colonist belonged depended on their occupation—not their birthright. Social mobility existed in colonial Rhode Island, making it a destination for opportunity.