Which colony was founded by Lord Baltimore as a haven for Catholics?

The colony founded by Lord Baltimore as a haven for Catholics is Maryland. In the 1630s, Lord Baltimore received a charter from King Charles I to establish a colony that would provide a refuge for English Catholics who faced persecution in Anglican England. Baltimore envisioned Maryland as a place where Catholics could practice their faith freely, thus promoting religious tolerance. The colony was established in 1634, and it played a significant role in the early struggle for religious freedom in America. The Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 was one of the first laws in the American colonies to mandate religious tolerance, further solidifying its reputation as a safe haven for Catholics and other religious minority groups.

Other colonies, such as Virginia and Pennsylvania, had different origins and purposes. Virginia was primarily established for economic reasons, specifically for the production of cash crops like tobacco, while Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a refuge for Quakers and others seeking religious freedom. Georgia was established later as a buffer against Spanish Florida and for various social reform purposes.