John Smyth, an Anglican bishop, is credited with starting the Baptist movement in Holland in 1610 after fleeing persecution in England. At his death the Baptist movement ceased in Holland but the majority of Baptists there returned to England. During this same time the Particular Baptists (Calvinistic) began to grow in England and both began to spread to the USA.

Roger Williams started the first recorded Baptist church in America in Providence, Road Island in 1639. He is famous for standing for the idea of the separation of church and state. Until the end of the Revolutionary War Baptists were persecuted in the US.

Today we have over 47 different kinds of Baptists in the US alone
See Adherents.com for denominational statistics.

Beliefs
Baptists, like some Eastern Orthodox Churches, believe in believers baptism by immersion. (only adults that confess to be a believer in Christ should be baptized and this is to be done by immersion not sprinkling or pouring) Most of the older churches, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Methodists, ect. practice Infant Baptism by sprinkling.

Most also believe in Eternal Security (the doctrine that once a person is truly saved they can't loose their salvation) except General and Free Will Baptists. Some, like the Primitive Baptists, believe in Calvinism. Some will also teach the gifts of the spirit ceased when the last apostle died or when the cannon was finished. A few, like the Pentecostal Free Will Baptists, practice speaking in tongues (a prayer language).

They are antonymous (pastors are elected by each church instead of being appointed by a bishop like the Episcopal churches) and believe in the separation of church and state (as opposed to church of England, Lutherans in Germany, Catholics in Spain and Italy) They are Dispensationalists. Most are more concerned with revivalism than doctrine.

Current Baptist groups

Alliance of Baptist Churches, founded 1987  Encourages inquiry into church history, dedicated to social and economic justice American Baptist Association, founded 1905 Pre-Millennial, eternal security, denounce abortion, homosexuality, and pre-marital sex American Baptist Churches in the USA, founded 1845 Denounce slavery, alcohol, baptism and communion are not necessary to salvation, less conservative that Southern Baptists, allows ordination of women, would like to fellowship with all Baptist groups (even freewill) Baptist Bible Fellowship, founded  Eternal Security Baptist General Conference, founded 1852 Conservative, Pre-millennial Baptist World Alliance, McLean, VA, founded in 1905 Conservative Baptist Association of America, founded  Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, founded 1991 Objecting to theological struggles in the Southern Baptists, it went independent to focus on ministry rather then theology Free Will Baptists, founded 1935 Denounce eternal security, practice foot washing General Association of Regular Baptists, founded 1932 Pre-millennial,  Eternal Security

General Baptists, founded 1870 Denounce eternal security, practice foot washing, Pre-Millennial National Baptist Convention USA, founded 1895 opposed to all forms of church organization National Missionary Baptist, founded 1988 National Primitive Baptist Convention, founded 1907 Primitive Baptists, founded 1827 Strictest and most exclusive, Calvinist, some practice foot washing Pentecostal Free Will Baptists, founded 1959 Pentecostal, Arminian, Holiness, foot washing, Pre-Millennial   Progressive National Baptist Convention, founded 1961 (Black) Civil rights activists Reformed Baptists, founded 1954 5 point Calvinism, Separate Baptists, founded 1700 Reject all creeds, Calvinism, practice foot washing Seventh Day Baptist, founded 1802 Worship on Saturday instead of Sunday, open communion Southern Baptist Convention, founded 1845 Conservative, was very Calvinistic until this century, Reject ordination of women, and affirm the death penalty, Eternal Security