Blackwell Reference Online

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In June 1636, Roger W illiams established the first European settlement at Providence. Portsmouth, Newport, and Warwick were founded by 1643. On 24 March 1644, Parliament (then in rebellion against the monarchy) created the four towns into a charter colony. After the Stuart Restoration, Williams obtained a charter from C harles ii on 18 July 1663 confirming the privileges given in 1644. R.I. was the only New England colony without an established church. Its only Indian hostilities came during K ing P hilip's W ar . By 1700 it had 6,000 people, including 300 slaves. The economy's most important activities were distilling, raising livestock, and overseas trade. In the Revolution, it provided two of the 80 Continental regiments and outfitted 15 privateers. The British occupied Newport, its largest city (1776–9). It was the site of 60 military actions on land and 11 on water. It abolished slavery in 1784. It refused to ratify the C onstitution in 1789 and did not become the 13th state until 29 May 1790. In 1800 it was the second smallest state and had 69,122 inhabitants, of whom 79 percent were rural, and 95 percent were white. It became a major center of industry after December 1790, when Samuel S later began operating the first US water-powered textile factory. The charter of 1663, which continued in force after the Revolution, was replaced in 1843 following the D orr R ... log in or subscribe to read full text