# A Forgotten American Hero: Roger Williams

**URL:** <https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/portraits-of-liberty/a-forgotten-american-hero-roger-williams>

**By** Paul Meany

**Published:** June 17, 2021

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Born into a world of constant religious conflicts, Roger Williams believed the key to peaceful coexistence was absolute freedom of religion, a dangerous and new idea he tested in what would become Rhode Island.

## Summary:

Born in England while Puritans were persecuted, Williams hopped aboard a ship to America in an attempt to find a place where freedom of religion was a guaranteed right. Unable to find a home free of religious persecution, he founded his own colony, now known as Rhode Island, one of the first places ever to establish absolute freedom of religion with no ifs or buts.

### Music Attributions:

White by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4626-white](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4626-white)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
Ancient Rite by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5739-ancient-rite](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5739-ancient-rite)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
Serene by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4336-serene](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4336-serene)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
Promising Relationship by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4246-promising-relationship](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4246-promising-relationship)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
The Parting by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4501-the-parting](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4501-the-parting)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
Village Dawn by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4586-village-dawn](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4586-village-dawn)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
Windswept by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4629-windswept](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4629-windswept)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)