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54-399: Rhode Island held a constitutional convention in 1841. Prior to 1842, Rhode Island was still governed by the 1663 Royal Charter . At nearly two centuries old, the document essentially restricted voting rights to a very small population of elite, rural, landowning native-born white males. Two disenfranchised groups in particular, immigrants and free African-American laborers, had been petitioning

108-571: A Royal Charter from King Charles II . Charles was a Catholic sympathizer in staunchly Protestant England, and he approved of the colony's promise of religious freedom. He granted the request with the Royal Charter of 1663 , uniting the four settlements together into the English Colony of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations. In the following years, many persecuted groups settled in the colony, notably Quakers and Jews. The Rhode Island colony

162-468: A confederacy of the four settlements, not a united single colony. John Clarke went to England, then ruled by Oliver Cromwell , to have the instrument revoked in 1653, then remained in England for the next decade and became the agent to represent the interests of the fledgling Rhode Island colony. Commissioners of the four settlements forwarded ideas to Clarke concerning a possible union of the settlements into

216-530: A group of 13 other men bought Aquidneck Island from the Narragansett Indians in 1639, and the population of Newport, Rhode Island grew from 96 in 1640 to 7,500 in 1760 (making Newport the fifth-largest city in the Thirteen Colonies at the time), and Newport grew further to 9,209 by 1774. The black population in the colony grew from 25 in 1650 to 3,668 in 1774 (ranging between 3 and 10 percent of

270-517: A long-standing dispute concerning the former Narragansett lands which were also claimed by Connecticut and Massachusetts, although the dispute continued until 1703, when the arbitration award was upheld. After repeated surveys, a mutually agreeable line was defined and surveyed in 1728. The eastern boundary was an area of dispute with Massachusetts Bay Colony . Overlapping charters had awarded an area extending three miles inland to both Plymouth Colony and Rhode Island east of Narragansett Bay; this area

324-547: A referendum proposal to call a new Constitutional Convention , which was elected in November 1985 and convened in January 1986. The new constitution was ratified by the voters in the general election of November 1986. On January 20, 1987, "the state's first new constitution in 144 years was officially entered into the state Archives". Rhode Island Royal Charter The Rhode Island Royal Charter provided royal recognition to

378-615: A sanctuary for religious and intellectual freedom. On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island became the first of the 13 colonies to renounce its allegiance to the British Crown, and it was the fourth to ratify the Articles of Confederation among the newly sovereign states on February 9, 1778. It boycotted the 1787 convention that drew up the United States Constitution , and initially refused to ratify it. It relented after Congress sent

432-503: A series of constitutional amendments to the states for ratification, the Bill of Rights guaranteeing specific personal freedoms and rights, clear limitations on the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and explicit declarations that all powers not specifically delegated to Congress by the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people. On May 29, 1790, Rhode Island became

486-599: A single colony. The overthrow of Cromwell's Commonwealth and the Stuart Restoration necessitated getting a charter from the new King . The Royal Charter of 1663 confirmed everything that the Patent of 1643–1644 had given, and it granted power to the colony to make its own laws, guaranteed religious freedom, and did not require oaths of allegiance. Three points in the charter distinguish it from any other royal patent that had ever been granted. It acknowledges Indian rights to

540-805: A year before the more famous Boston Tea Party . Leading figures in the colony were involved in the 1776 launch of the American Revolutionary War which brought American independence from the British Empire . This included Governors Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward , as well as John Brown , Nicholas Brown , William Ellery , the Reverend James Manning , and the Reverend Ezra Stiles , each of whom had played an influential role in founding Brown University in Providence in 1764 as

594-648: Is the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, in the Narragansett Bay, New England, in America . The land was first owned by the Narragansett Indians , which led to the name of the town of Narragansett, Rhode Island . European settlement began around 1622 with a trading post at Sowams, now the town of Warren, Rhode Island . The first four European Settlements were at Providence, Portsmouth, Newport and Warwick. Roger Williams

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648-515: The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , approved by England's King Charles II in July 1663. It superseded the 1643 Patent for Settlement and outlined many freedoms for the inhabitants of Rhode Island . It was the guiding document of the colony's government (and that of the state later) over a period of 180 years. The charter contains unique provisions which make it significantly different from

702-718: The Narragansett Indian Tribe from voting. (Article II, Section 4.) Naturalized citizens, mainly Irish Catholics, remained largely disenfranchised by the property requirements which remained in the new Constitution. Another progressive feature of the new constitution was that it outlawed slavery in Rhode Island. (Article 1, Section 4.) This provision, however, was largely symbolic as the 1840 census listed only five enslaved persons in Rhode Island. Rhode Island held constitutional conventions in 1944, 1951, 1955, 1958, 1964–69, and 1973. In 1984, Rhode Island voters approved

756-407: The 13th state and the last of the former colonies to ratify the Constitution. The boundaries of Rhode Island underwent numerous changes from early Colonial times well after American independence, including repeated disputes with Massachusetts and Connecticut who contested for control of territory that ultimately belonged to Rhode Island. Rhode Island's early compacts did not stipulate the boundary on

810-460: The 1842 constitution continued the requirement of the royal charter which held that only landowners with $ 134 in property could vote. (This provision would be overturned by a subsequent amendment.) The new constitution extended universal suffrage to all native adult males, including black males, for the first time in Rhode Island history, provided they met property holding and residency requirements. The constitution specifically prohibited members of

864-559: The 18th century. Mass migration from New England to the Province of New York and the Province of New Jersey began following the surrender of New Netherland by the Dutch Republic at Fort Amsterdam in 1664, and the population of New York continued to expand by families moving from New England in the 18th century rather than from natural increase. Most Puritan immigrants to New England moved as families, as approximately two-thirds of

918-511: The Assembly, it was Voted: That the box in which the King's gratious letters were enclosed be opened, and the letters with the broad seale thereto affixed be taken forth and read by Captayne George Baxter in the audience and view of all the people; which was accordingly done, and the sayd letters with his Majesty's Royall Stampe, and the broad seal, with much becoming gravity held up on hygh, and presented to

972-512: The Coddington Commission, which made him life governor of the islands of Rhode Island and Conanicut in a federation with Connecticut Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony . Protest, open rebellion, and a further petition to Oliver Cromwell in London led to the reinstatement of the original 1643 Patent. Following the 1660 restoration of royal rule in England, it was necessary to gain

1026-621: The General Assembly for the right to vote for decades. These issues came to a head with the Dorr Rebellion in spring 1842. Although the rebellion was led by middle-class urban white males, it forced conservative leaders in Rhode Island to consider the larger question of expansion of suffrage. In September 1842, a Constitutional Convention was held at the Colony House in Newport to confront

1080-451: The King, and thus became incorporated within the royal charter. A second remarkable point in the charter is the right of conscience that it extended to the Rhode Island colonists, which became the "sole distinguishing feature of Rhode Island's history". A third distinguishing point is its "democratic liberalism" which allowed the Rhode Island colonists to elect their own officers and make their own laws, so long as they were not contrary to

1134-560: The Massachusetts Bay General Court, Gorton traveled to London to enlist the help of Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick , head of the Commission for Foreign Plantations. Damon returned in 1648 with a letter from Rich ordering Massachusetts to cease molesting him and his people. In gratitude, he changed the name of Shawomet Plantation to Warwick . In 1651, William Coddington obtained a separate charter from England setting up

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1188-525: The Narragansett Bay after Christian virtues: Patience , Prudence , and Hope Islands . In 1637, another group of Massachusetts dissenters settled on Aquidneck Island , which was called Rhode Island at the time. They established a settlement called Pocasset at the northern end of the island. The group included William Coddington , John Clarke , and Anne and William Hutchinson , among others. That settlement, however, quickly split into two separate settlements. Samuel Gorton and others remained to establish

1242-717: The New England Colonies (including those without resident clergy), while there was a small Jewish enclave in Newport by 1658. Following the First Great Awakening (1730–1755), the number of regular places of worship in Rhode Island grew to 50 in 1750 (30 Baptist, 12 Congregational, 7 Anglican , and 1 Jewish), with the colony gaining an additional 5 regular places of worship by 1776 (26 Baptist, 11 Friends , 9 Congregational , 5 Episcopal , 1 Jewish, 1 New Light Congregational , 1 Presbyterian , and 1 Sandemanian ). Puritan mass migration to New England began following

1296-698: The Pequot War, became a part of the colony in 1664, and was incorporated in 1672 as New Shoreham . The western boundary with Connecticut Colony was defined ambiguously as the "Narragansett River" in the Connecticut charter, which was decided by arbitrators in 1663 to be the Pawcatuck River from its mouth to the Ashaway River mouth, from which a northward line was drawn to the Massachusetts line. This resolved

1350-401: The boundary lines for Rhode Island Colony, though it was nearly a century before Massachusetts and Connecticut stopped disputing them. Rhode Island's General Court of Commissioners convened at Newport on 24 November 1663 for the last time under the parliamentary patent of 1643–1644. The inhabitants and legislators gathered to learn the result of John Clarke's decade-long efforts, described in

1404-422: The charters granted to the other colonies. It gave the colonists freedom to elect their own governor and write their own laws, within very broad guidelines, and also stipulated that no person residing in Rhode Island could be "molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question for any differences in opinion in matters of religion". The charter was not replaced until 1843, after serving for nearly two centuries as

1458-516: The colonial records: At a very great meeting and assembly of the freemen of the colony of Providence Plantation, at Newport, in Rhode Island, in New England, November the 24th, 1663. The abovesayed Assembly being legally called and orderly mett for the sollome reception of his Majestyes gratious letter pattent unto them sent, and having in order thereto chosen the President, Benedict Arnold, Moderator of

1512-404: The colony William Coddington , Nicholas Easton , Samuel Gorton , John Weekes, Gregory Dexter , Randall Holden , John Roome, Samuel Wilbur, Jr. , Richard Tew, Thomas Harris, and William Dyre . The charter specifically required that the adjacent colonies permit the people of Rhode Island to pass unmolested, due to various acts committed in the past by other colonies. It also minutely defined

1566-580: The colony's population. The Rhode Island merchants also profited by distilling rum as part of the triangular trade in slaves and sugar between Africa, America, and the Caribbean . Rhode Island was the first of the Thirteen Colonies to take up arms against Great Britain in the Gaspee Affair , when an armed group of men attacked and burned a British Navy ship. This impromptu attack occurred in June, 1772, more than

1620-458: The dominion collapsed and Rhode Island resumed its previous government. The bedrock of the economy continued to be fishing and agriculture, especially dairy farming; lumber and shipbuilding also became major industries. The Rhode Island General Assembly legalized African and Native American slavery throughout the colony in 1703, and the slave trade fueled the growth of Providence and Newport into major ports. By 1755, enslaved people made up 10% of

1674-571: The eastern shore of Narrangansett Bay, and did not include any of Washington County , land that belonged to the Narragansett people . The original settlements were at Providence , Warwick, Newport, and Portsmouth, and the territory was expanded by purchasing land from the Narragansetts westward toward Connecticut and the smaller islands in Narrangasett Bay. Block Island was settled in 1637 after

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1728-423: The final decision, a portion of Tiverton was awarded to Massachusetts to become part of Fall River, and two-thirds of Seekonk (now eastern Pawtucket and East Providence) was awarded to Rhode Island in 1862. Rhode Island's northern border with Massachusetts also underwent a number of changes. Massachusetts surveyed this line in 1642, but subsequent surveys by Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut agreed that it

1782-692: The first Wednesday of May, and the deputies were to be chosen by their representative towns. The entire legislative body would be called the General Assembly and would meet in May and October, though the places and times of meeting could be altered. Benedict Arnold was named in the charter as governor and William Brenton named as deputy governor until the first election. The charter named William Boulston , John Porter , Roger Williams , Thomas Olney , John Smith , John Greene, Jr. , John Coggeshall, Jr. , James Barker , William Field, and Joseph Clarke as deputies. It also lists primary purchasers and free inhabitants of

1836-532: The fortified Narragansett village in the Great Swamp . The Narragansetts also invaded and burned several towns in Rhode Island, including Providence. Roger Williams had known both Metacom (Philip) and Canonchet since they were children. He was aware of the tribe's activities and promptly sent letters informing the Governor of Massachusetts of enemy movements. Providence Plantations made some efforts at fortifying

1890-616: The guiding force of the colony and then the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Historian Thomas Bicknell described it as "the grandest instrument of human liberty ever constructed". The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations began as settlements in Providence , Newport , Portsmouth , and Warwick . The settlements banded together under the Patent of 1643–1644, recognizing their corporate existence and compelling recognition from their neighbors as well. The patent produced

1944-532: The issuance of the royal charter for the Massachusetts Bay Company by Charles I of England in 1629 and continued until the beginning of the English Civil War in 1642. The immigration leveled off following the war's conclusion in 1651, and the population growth owed almost entirely to natural increase rather than immigration or slave importations for the remainder of the 17th century and through

1998-484: The issue of expanding suffrage. Black civil rights activists including Ichabod Northup and James Jefferson pushed for the right to vote; they were joined by whites including Crawford Allan, future governor James Y. Smith , reformer Thomas Robinson Hazard , and The Providence Journal editor Henry Bowen Anthony. When the constitution was put to a public vote in November 1842, a ballot question asked whether voting rights should be restricted to whites only. Voters rejected

2052-454: The laws of England. The provisions were very flexible, allowing the laws to consider "the nature and constitution of the place and people there". The government was to consist of a governor, a deputy governor, ten assistants, and a house of deputies: six from Newport, four each from Providence, Warwick, and Portsmouth, and two from every other town. The governor, deputy governor, and assistants were to be chosen annually by election at Newport on

2106-557: The male Puritan immigrants to New England were married rather than unmarried indentured servants. By the American Revolutionary War, only two percent of the New England colonial labor force were bonded or convict laborers and another two percent were black slaves, while nine percent of the colonial black population in New England were free, as compared with only three percent in the Southern Colonies. In February 1784,

2160-458: The perfect view of the people, and then returned into the box and locked up by the Governor, in order to the safe keeping of it. The legislature voted the following day that words of humble thanks should be delivered to the King and also to the Earl of Clarendon . They voted to give a £100 gratuity to Clarke and £25 to Baxter. The Charter was not replaced until 1843, 180 years later, in order to extend

2214-413: The population), and like the state as a whole, declined to 2,671 (or 5 percent of the population) by 1780. In 1774, Narragansetts accounted for 1,479 of the inhabitants of the colony (or three percent). Rhode Island was the only New England colony without an established church. Rhode Island had only four churches with regular services in 1650, out of the 109 places of worship with regular services in

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2268-507: The relationship was more strained between other New England colonies and certain tribes. This situation frequently led to bloodshed, despite attempts by the Rhode Island leadership to broker peace. During King Philip's War (1675–1676), Colonist and Indian fighting regularly violated Rhode Island's neutrality. The war's largest battle occurred in Rhode Island on December 19, 1675 when a force of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Plymouth militia under General Josiah Winslow invaded and destroyed

2322-413: The restriction by a three to one margin, thus making Rhode Island the first state to grant suffrage to African-Americans. The new constitution was ratified by an overwhelming vote of 7,024 to 51. The turnout was meager, as the opposition boycotted the election. The constitution became effective in May 1843. Much of the text of the 1663 charter language remained in the new version. Article II, Section 1 of

2376-610: The rights to all native adult males, including blacks. It was the oldest constitutional charter in the world when it was retired. The original Royal Charter is on display at the Rhode Island State House in Providence, and a photographic copy is on display at the State Archives. The State House's charter exhibit was redesigned and rededicated in January 2016. Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

2430-532: The rules. However, many colonial governments refused to enforce the acts, Massachusetts principally among them, and Massachusetts took matters one step further by obstructing the activities of the Crown agents. Charles' successor James II introduced the Dominion of New England in 1686 as a means to accomplish these goals. Under its provisional president Joseph Dudley , the disputed "King's Country" (now Washington County )

2484-500: The settlement of Portsmouth in 1638, while Coddington and Clarke established nearby Newport in 1639. Both settlements were situated on Rhode Island. The second settlement on the mainland was Damon Salvator 's Shawomet Purchase from the Narragansetts in 1642. As soon as he settled there, however, the Massachusetts Bay authorities laid claim to his territory and acted to enforce their claim. After considerable difficulties with

2538-616: The soil, which was far different than the European doctrine of " possession by right of discovery " which was part of the "royal prerogative". Historian Samuel G. Arnold writes that "Rhode Island was the first solemn protest" against taking land from the Indians without payment. Roger Williams established this policy when he settled the colony by paying the Narragansetts for the land, and his views were maintained by those who followed him there. These views were set forth by Clarke in his address to

2592-538: The town, and Williams even started training recruits for protection. In one of the final actions of the war, troops from Connecticut killed Philip in Mount Hope , Rhode Island. In the 1680s, Charles II sought to streamline administration of the English colonies and to more closely control their trade. The Navigation Acts passed in the 1660s were widely disliked, since merchants often found themselves trapped and at odds with

2646-670: Was a Puritan theologian and linguist who founded Providence Plantations in 1636 on land given to him by Narragansett sachem Canonicus . He named the settlement Providence Plantations because he believed that God had brought them there. (The term "plantation" was used in the 17th century to mean an agricultural colony.) Williams had been exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony under religious persecution; he and his fellow settlers agreed on an egalitarian constitution providing for majority rule "in civil things" with liberty of conscience on spiritual matters. He named three islands in

2700-571: Was awarded to Rhode Island in 1741, establishing Rhode Island's jurisdiction over Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton, and Little Compton which Massachusetts had claimed. Also adjudicated in the 1741 decision was the award of most of Cumberland to Rhode Island from Massachusetts. The final establishment of the boundaries north of Barrington and east of the Blackstone River occurred almost a century after American independence, requiring protracted litigation and multiple U.S. Supreme Court decisions. In

2754-472: Was brought into the dominion, and the rest of the colony was brought under dominion control by Governor Edmund Andros . The rule of Andros was extremely unpopular, especially in Massachusetts. The 1688 Glorious Revolution deposed James II and brought William III and Mary II to the English throne; Massachusetts authorities conspired in April 1689 to have Andros arrested and sent back to England. With this event,

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2808-570: Was one of the original Thirteen Colonies established on the east coast of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It was founded by Roger Williams . It was an English colony from 1636 until 1707, and then a colony of Great Britain until the American Revolution in 1776, when it became the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations . Its official name according to the Royal Charter of 1663

2862-433: Was placed too far south. In 1718-19, commissioners for Rhode Island and Massachusetts agreed on roughly that line anyway (except the section east of the Blackstone River, which remained disputed until 1741), and this is where the line remains today. From 1640 to 1774, the population of Rhode Island grew from 300 to 59,607, but then declined during the American Revolutionary War to 52,946 in 1780. William Coddington and

2916-466: Was very progressive for the time, passing laws abolishing witchcraft trials, imprisonment for debt, and most capital punishment. The colony also passed the first anti-slavery law in America on May 18, 1652, though the practice remained widespread in Rhode Island and there exists no evidence that the legislation was ever enforced. Rhode Island remained at peace with the Narragansett Indians, but

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