Rhode Island History
Rhode Island was first discovered when French explorer Giovanni da Verrazano landed on what is known today as Narragansett Bay. He reported back to France that the area was a lush and  lavish land and compared it, and nearby Block Island, to the Rhodes Island near France. Consequently, it is believed that is where the state’s name originated.
However, after the writings of Verrazano, there are 90 years with no European recorded writings about Rhode Island. By the 1600’s many colonist had settled in the New World in search of religious freedom and opportunity to do things without interference of the rigidness of English society and the lure of monetary gain. In 1635, William Blackstone, unimpressed with life in Boston, moved to Cumberland, Rhode Island; but as he had little interest in community, he is not given any recognition for the establishment of the colony of Rhode Island (even though he was the first English settler). It was not until 1636 that Roger Williams negotiated with the Indian tribes, and was able to obtain the land tract that he named Providence. This
Community became the 1st permanent
settlement in Rhode Island.
In 1638, Anne Hutchinson, her husband and 16 children, along with several others left Massachusetts to set up a new community where they could practice their beliefs as they choose. Consequently, Rhode Island’s 2nd permanent settlement, Portsmouth, was begun. A year later, several Portsmouth families left and moved south where they established the 3rd Rhode Island colony of Newport. In 1642, the settlement of Shawomet (later called Warrick) was established by Samuel Groton and his religious followers.
 In 1647, the colony was officially named Rhode Island, and the state motto, “Hope” was selected. Rhode Island had become known as a place of religious freedom and tolerance. By the mid 1600’s, there were Puritans, Quakers, Jews, and Catholics, with their numbers reaching nearly 1,000 by the beginning of the 1,700’s. The settlers prospered as they cultivated the land, raised livestock and learned to live on the abundance of the sea. They established trade routes for products such as sugar and molasses with the people of the Caribbean and other locations in the Atlantic Ocean.
Unfortunately, with trade routes, also came slavery. By the 1790, a census revealed that there were almost 700,000 slaves out of 3.9 million people living in the United States. Along with slave ships, many renegade ships looking to loot the trade ships began sailing the high seas. The pirates caused many trials for the sea merchants and gave rise to the many legends of treasure, both real and imagined, along the Atlantic coastline.
During the 1700’s, the American colonist grew increasingly disgruntled with the tyrannous rule from England and by the 1770’s, they had had enough. The colonist, especially those in New England, began organizing armies to defend their land, families, and freedom against rule by Britain. On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island declared her independence from the Crown—it was the first colony to take action. During America’s war for Independence, many significant battles were fought on Rhode Island soil. Over 900 homes were destroyed, numerous homes were looted, farming was at its all time low and the population was decreased by 10% by the end of the War. Had it not been for the generosity of the people of Connecticut, there would have been a severe famine. In the years following the War, there were many changes and challenges to be faced by Rhode Island and the nation at large. And, although the U.S. Constitution was passed on September 17, 1787, Rhode Island did not accept it until May 29, 1790, becoming the 13th state.
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