| Roger Williams established the earliest permanent | | | | give up loyalty towards Great Britain and |
| settlement in Rhode Island at Providence in 1636 | | | | announce independence was Rhode Island. |
| on property obtained from the Narragansett | | | | The independent spirit of Rhode Island was |
| Indians. Forced to run away from Massachusetts | | | | evident even at the close of the Revolutionary |
| because of harassment, Williams established a rule | | | | War. Rhode Island was the last of the 13 original |
| of religious and political freedom in his new | | | | colonies to approve the U.S. Constitution, |
| settlement. Other leaders supporting freedom of | | | | demanding that the Bill of Rights, which secures |
| worship quickly established similar societies on | | | | individual freedom, be added. |
| either side of Narragansett Bay. These societies | | | | At the same time, as industrialization increased, |
| united, and in 1663 King Charles II of England | | | | Rhode Island's cities expanded. New people in |
| granted them a royal contract, providing for a | | | | search of employment opportunities came from a |
| greater level of self-government than any other | | | | score of countries, mostly from Great Britain, |
| colony in the New World, promoting the | | | | Ireland, Italy, and French Canada. Over the years, |
| continuation of freedom of religion. | | | | as these people became a part of Rhode Island's |
| The early 1700s was a period of success for | | | | industrial structure, the state gained a reputation |
| Rhode Island. Farming and sea trading became the | | | | for its manufacturing skill and quality, which is still a |
| most thriving trades. Providence and Newport | | | | significant asset for the state's economy. |
| were among the busiest ports in the New World. | | | | There is so much history here, that Rhode Island |
| In spite of making profits from the slave trade, | | | | is almost a living museum. For a state so small, |
| Rhode Island was the earliest colony to make the | | | | the state possesses one of the nation's largest |
| importation of slaves, illegal. | | | | concentrations of historic landmarks. The most |
| When the Revolutionary War started, the people | | | | renowned, certainly, are the lavish gilded age |
| of Rhode Island were amongst the first migrants | | | | Newport mansions that were formerly the |
| to take action against British rule by attacking | | | | summer 'cottages' of the wealthiest families of |
| British vessels. On May 4, 1776, the first colony to | | | | New York. |