The colony that Lord Baltimore established, known as Maryland, primarily encouraged a role for colonists in government. Lord Baltimore, a Catholic, sought to create a safe haven for Catholics in the New World and also promoted the idea of religious tolerance. The governance of the colony allowed for some level of self-rule and participation from the colonists, which was significant for the time.
While there were land grants provided, especially as a way to attract settlers, the main principle of allowing colonists to have a say in governance was a defining feature of Maryland under Lord Baltimore's leadership. The settlement wasn't exclusively for wealthy people, as the colony sought to attract a mix of settlers, including those from various economic backgrounds.
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