RHODE ISLAND 



4999 



RHODE ISLAND 



RHODE ISLAND 



Growth of Population by 



Decades 



(people per square mile) 



100 200 300400500 



I7QO 



Rhode Island 



Flag, 



blue and gold 

 on white 

 ground. 



Rhode Island State Armory, Providence 



View of Providence Harbor 



Rhode Island is one of the states in which 



there is no capital punishment. In 1915 a 



nilc court act was passed, also a law regu- 



T the report of occupational diseases and 



accidents. 



History. Colonial Period. Roper Williams, 

 a relipious rcfurcc from Massachusetts, founded 

 "Providence Plantation" in 1637, that he and 

 his followers mipht enjoy freedom in religious 

 worship. The settlement on Rhode Island was 

 founded one year later by John Clarke, Anne 

 II 'rhinson and others, who abo sought r< li- 

 pious freedom. A third settlement was made at 

 vick in 1643, by secedcre from Providence. 

 The following year Rorer Williams, eccini that 

 a union of the settlements was necessary, se- 

 cured a charter from Charles I, which united 

 them under the name of "Providence Planta- 



tions." In 1663 the charter of "Rhode Island 

 and Providence Plantations" was obtained, and 

 it remained the law of the colony and state 

 until 'the adoption of the "Freeman's Consti- 

 tution" in 1842. 



The colony suffered greatly in early Indian 

 warfare. During the French and Indian War, 

 Rhode Island was conspicuous in privateer 

 warfare, and later the state continued to play 

 an important part in naval history. The col- 

 ony was active in defending American rights 

 against English aggressions, and in 1772 the 

 British schooner Gaspcc was burned in Narra- 

 pansctt Bay by men from Providence. The 

 '-cupicd Newport during a great part 

 of the war, and several battles were fought 

 upon Rhode Island soil. The last of the origi- 

 nal states to ratify the Constitution, Rhode 



