Anne HutchinsonWhile Roger Williams gets most of the credit for founding Rhode Island, Anne Hutchinson was instrumental in its creation. She originally came to Massachusetts as a puritan. However, she soon came to resent those who were not among "the elect" but exercised religious authority. She also preached that women should have more rights and influence in religious affairs. Eventually, she was accused of antinomianism, one who believes literal morality is unnecessary because faith is all that is needed. She fled Massachusetts and joined Roger Williams' quest for a colony with religious freedom. Eventually she moved to New Netherland with her family. Her departure from Massachusetts and the tightening rules of the colony forced many others to leave and seek other colonies.
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Samuel SlaterSamuel Slater was "The Father of the American Factory System." He built the first water-powered mill in America in Pawtucket, Rhode Island after illegally memorizing and bringing the blueprint information to the country from England. With the help of Moses Brown, Slater started the American industrial revolution. After the success of his mills, many more New Englanders began to follow, and soon New England was America's key industrial site. The original Slater's Mill still exists today.
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