Anne Hutchinson grew up in England. As a child, her parents taught Anne to speak her mind. At age 21, Anne married William Hutchinson. The Hutchinsons were very religious. They admired Puritan minister John Cotton. Anne and William followed the minister to Massachusetts Bay in 1634.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony was the second colony started by the British in New England. Hutchinson often held religious discussion groups in her home. She believed that people could read and understand the Bible on their own. They didn't need ministers to interpret the Bible for them. The Puritan leaders disagreed with her ideas.

In 1637, Puritan leaders put Hutchinson on trial. She stood by her beliefs and refused to back down. As punishment, she was forced to leave Massachusetts Bay. Hutchinson and her followers started the settlement of Portsmouth, Rhode Island.