A State at a Time: Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state, with 1,214 sq. mi.

Its elevation rises from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 812’ (Jerimoth Hill).

Rhode Island is 13.9% water.

Roger Williams

Anne Hutchinson

Rhode Island was apparently established by rebels: Roger Williams was banished from the Mass. Bay Colony for heresy (estab. Providence); Anne Hutchinson was also banished for religions reasons (estab. Portsmouth); William Coddington left Portsmouth because of a political dispute (estab. Newport); Samuel Gorton was banished from Portsmouth for insisting men and women were equal (estab. Warwick).

Samuel Gorton

William Coddington

During the 18^th century, R.I. controlled 60-90% of the colonial slave trade, but in 1784 passed the Negro Emancipation Act that allowed the gradual freeing of slaves.

Water-powered spinning machine

England didn’t allow emigration by anyone who worked on spinning machines, let alone the machines or plans themselves, so Samuel Slater disguised himself as a farmer to get to the U.S.; here he recreated Richard Arkwright’s water-powered spinning machine from memory. In 1793, Slater teamed with Moses Brown to build the 1^st water-powered cotton mill, beginning the Industrial Revolution in the U.S.

R.I. governed itself by the 1663 charter, that allowed only male landowners to vote and giving rural areas majority power. This system was replaced in 1843 by a new constitution that gave the vote to all black and white adult males if native-born and to adult male immigrants who own land.

R.I. has the highest percentage of Liberian immigrants in the U.S.

R.I. has the highest percentage of Catholics in the U.S.

R.I. is one of the only states without a governor’s mansion.

R.I. has 5 counties but no county government (only Conn. is also like this).

R.I. manufactures more jewelry than any other state.

90% of R.I. residents live in cities.

R.I. was the 1^st state to collect taxes to pay for schools.

Redwood library in Newport

U.S. Naval War College in Newport, estab. 1884, is the oldest in the world. Newport has the oldest existing Jewish synagogue in the U.S. and the oldest library building in the U.S.