History of Rhode Island

• Rhode Island's name originated in a 1664 letter.
• An Italian explorer referred to Aquidneck Island as the Isle of Rhodes.
• In 1663, it was renamed Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
• The first Rhode Islanders were members of the Wampanoag, Nipmuc, and Pequot tribal nations.
• The Rhode Island charter of 1663 guaranteed freedom of religion and the freedom to govern their own colony.
• In 1636, Roger Williams was granted land use by Narragansett Chiefs Canoonicus and Miantomi.
• In 1772, Rhode Islanders attacked and burned the British ship the Gaspee, marking the first armed act of rebellion.
• In 1776, Rhode Island was the first colony to renounce allegiance to the king.
• In 1841, the Dorr Rebellion led to the expansion of voting rights.
• In 1917, Rhode Island was the first New England state to allow women to vote for presidential electors.
• In 1936, Rhode Island was the first state to use voting machines in every district.
• Elizabeth Buffum Chace co-founded RI women's suffrage and helped create a state school for the homeless.
• Christina Carteaux Bannister was an equal rights activist who founded a home for aged women of color.
• Ann Smith Franklin was the country's first female newspaper editor.
• Before the State House was built, people met in smaller state houses in Providence, Newport, Bristol, East Greenwich, and South Kingstown.
• Locations rotated to ensure government availability and prevent any part of the state from having too much power.
• The State Library contains books about Rhode Island history and U.S. history.
• The two chambers that make up the General Assembly are the Senate Chamber and the House Chamber.
• Rhode Island has 38 senators due to the RI constitution and census, with about 1 senator for every 30,000 people.
• The Rhode Island General Assembly has 75 members because of the RI constitution and census.
• There is about 1 representative for every 15,000 people.

How a Bill Becomes a Law in Rhode Island

• A bill is introduced by a representative or senator.
• The bill is assigned to a committee.
• The bill is voted on in the whole house or senate floor.
• It goes to the governor's desk for signing, vetoing, or allowing.
• The governor approves the bill.
• The bill becomes a law.
• If not signed, a 3/5 override by both the House and Senate is needed.

Participating in Government

• Contact government officials via text, email, or in-person.
• Petition the bill by writing a statement and collect signatures.
• Testify at a hearing.
• Write a letter to a newspaper.
• Peacefully protest.
• Granting freedom of religion was considered a lively experiment because other colonies required all people to follow a particular religion.
• To participate in government civically, one had to be a certain religion.
• The General Assembly originally consisted of representatives and assistants from each town and met twice a year.
• Rhode Islanders celebrate their charter at the governor's inauguration.
• At the inauguration, the charter is held up and read for all assembled freemen.
• Rhode Island opposed allowing the government under the AOC to collect 5% duty because of its sovereignty.
• Rhode Island felt that the central government didn't have the right to lay and collect taxes under the Articles of Confederation.
• Due to war debts and trade distribution, Rhode Island relied on tariff collection from incoming trade to help pay debts.
• Giving up this collection would lead to a property tax increase, which would negatively affect people.
• Rhode Island initially didn't ratify the constitution due to the country party seeing no benefit in giving up the right to collect tariffs on imports and state sovereignty to a centralized government.
• Another concern was that there was no bill of rights or ban on slavery.
• Rhode Island ratified the constitution because parts of the state, like Providence and Newport, threatened to break off from the state.
• The national government threatened to treat Rhode Island like a foreign nation by taxing all goods from RI and prohibiting trade from Rhode Island to the U.S.

Explore the history of Rhode Island, from its naming and indigenous roots to its pioneering role in religious freedom and rebellion against British rule. Learn about key events such as the attack on the Gaspee and the Dorr Rebellion, and Rhode Island's early adoption of progressive reforms like women's suffrage and voting machines.