[kosta50]

You are right. Anabaptists were persecuted by Lutherans and Catholics. But they did not make up the "mainstream" Reformed group. I am not sure how Baptists became so prominent in America, but in the historical sence, they were not among the major three.

[Blogger]

They grew most as a frontier religion. Roger Williams, of course, built the first Baptist church in America in Rhode Island. This was in the 1600s.

[redgolum]

The original Anabaptists were hated by everyone, partially because many advocated violent overthrow of the states they resided in. Which may have been because in (for example) the German Elector States, they were attacked by all sides during the 30 years war.

After the founding of America, and even more after the American Revolution, many European countries saw America as a great place to send their dissidents. So a lot of Anabaptists (which may or may not be what we call Baptists today!) went on the boats.