马里兰
One of the originalThirteen Colonies, Maryland is considered to be the birthplace ofreligious freedomin America,when it was formed byGeorge Calvertin the early 17th century as an intended refuge for persecuted Catholics from England.George Calvert was the first Lord of Baltimore and the first English proprietor of the then-Maryland colonial grant.Maryland was the seventh state to ratify theUnited States Constitution, and played a pivotal role in the founding of Washington, D.C., which was established on land donated by the state.