Rhode Island: Home of Religious Freedom By The Northern Rose

Rhode Island was founded by none other than Roger Williams. In 1636, Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony because of his religious views. When he moved he settled upon land that was either sold or given to him by the Narragansett tribal leader Canonicus. He named the land Providence Plantations and wrote that he would see his purpose through by creating a land dedicated to the principal of religious freedom.

By 1638, Williams had began to discuss his dream with other religious dissenters. These included Anne Hutchinson, John Clarke, and Philip Sherman. With Williams advise they began to settle upon the Aquidneck Islands, which they referred to as Rhode Island. This land had been lawfully purchased from local tribes. They called their settlement Portsmouth and created the Portsmouth Compact. This was the first historic document to sever both political and religious ties to England.

In 1644, the localities of Portsmouth, Providence, and Newport united together and created the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (this is still Rhode Island's official title today). Before the American Revolution, Rhode Island got into many battles (both physical and legal) with the English Crown because of its declared independence. King James II attempted to enforce royal authority in the colony but he had his own troubles and was deposed in 1688 during the Glorious Revolution. In the same year, the colony was given its official independence through a Royal Charter declaring them as such. It is important to note that they were free to partially govern themselves. But, as Royal Charters do, they were still a colony of England. Their independence was still technically in name only.

Rhode Islands passion for freedom gave them an important role in the American Revolution. They were the first of the colonies to declare independence from Great Britain, doing so on May 4, 1776. They were also the first to ratify the Articles of Confederation. British troops occupied Newport in December of 1776 and a combined Franco-American effort to drive them out took place. It was not successful but the British abandoned Newport in October of 1779 when their forces gathered in New York City.

Most importantly to the war, 5,500 French troops under the comte de Rochambeau, landed in Newport on July 10, 1780. They would make the long journey to Yorktown, Virginia where they would join their efforts with that of General Washington and finally defeat the British at the Battle of Yorktown.

The history of Rhode Island is very important to the history of the United States, Although they are the smallest state, they have one of the loudest voice. They were the last colony to ratify the Constitution, doing so on May 29, 1790, over a year after the document had officially taken effect. In fact, the state of Rhode Island had boycotted the Constitutional Convention and refused to ratify the document until they seen proof of a Bill of Rights being in the works. The First Amendment's right to religious freedom was very important to them.

Rhode Islands history stretches way past just the creation of the United States. They played an important role in the Industrial Revolution. In the early 1800's there was a large tuberculosis outbreak that led to public hysteria about vampirism. During the Civil War the state supplied 25,236 troops to Lincoln's Army. In 1866 the state would be one of the first to abolish racial segregation in public schools. Today, when one thinks of Rhode Island they think of beautiful beaches and parks. They also think of the grand Newport Mansions that were once homes to the Vanderbilt's, Morgan's, and other influential Gilded Age families.


By The Northern Rose