Analytical Table
| CHAPTER I. | ||
| CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND PLYMOUTH COLONIES.—ARRIVAL AND BANISHMENT OF ROGER WILLIAMS. | ||
| The religious sentiment connected with the foundation of states, | 1 | |
| Resistance to the doctrine of theocracy occasioned the settlement of Rhode Island, | 2 | |
| 1631. | Ship Lyon arrived at Boston, bringing Roger Williams, | 2 |
| Early life of Williams, | 2 | |
| Massachusetts in possession of two distinct colonies, | 3 | |
| In Massachusetts Colony the clergy were virtually rulers, and they were extremely rigid, | 3 | |
| Disputes between Williams and the authorities of Massachusetts Bay Colony, | 4 | |
| Removal of Williams to Plymouth, | 4 | |
| Williams makes friendship with Massasoit and Miantonomi, | 5 | |
| Learns the Indian language, | 5 | |
| Williams returns to Salem, | 5 | |
| 1635. | He is persecuted and finally banished, | 6 |
| Articles of banishment, | 6 | |
| CHAPTER II. | ||
| SUFFERINGS OF ROGER WILLIAMS IN THE WILDERNESS.—FOUNDS A SETTLEMENT ON THE SEEKONK RIVER.—IS ADVISED TO DEPART.—SEEKS OUT A NEW PLACE WHICH HE CALLS PROVIDENCE. | ||
| Attempt to send Williams to England, | 7 | |
| His flight, | 8 | |
| He is fed by the Indians, | 8 | |
| He is given land on the Seekonk River by Massasoit and starts a settlement, | 8 | |
| He receives a friendly letter from the Governor of Plymouth asking him to remove, | 9 | |
| He starts with five companions in a canoe to find a place for a settlement, and finally lands at Providence, | 9 | |
| CHAPTER III. | ||
| WILLIAMS OBTAINS A GRANT OF LAND AND FOUNDS A COLONY.—FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE COLONY.—WILLIAMS GOES TO ENGLAND TO OBTAIN A ROYAL CHARTER. | ||
| Early inhabitants of Rhode Island, | 11 | |
| Williams makes peace between Canonicus and Massasoit, | 12 | |
| He receives a grant of land from Canonicus and begins a settlement, | 12 | |
| Compact of the colonists at Providence, | 13 | |
| Experiment of separation of church from state tried in the new Colony, | 13 | |
| The right of suffrage not regarded as a natural right. Illustrated by Joshua Verin and his wife, | 14 | |
| 1639. | The first church founded in Providence, | 15 |
| Five select men appointed to govern the Colony, subject to the action of the Monthly Town Meeting, | 15 | |
| Massachusetts Colony applied for a new charter to cover the land occupied by Providence, | 15 | |
| 1643. | Providence in connection with Aquidneck and Warwick sent Williams to England to obtain a Royal charter, | 15 |
| 1644. | Williams returns in 1644 successful, and is received with exultation,, | 16 |
| CHAPTER IV. | ||
| SETTLEMENT OF AQUIDNECK AND WARWICK.—PEQUOT WAR.—DEATH OF MIANTONOMI. | ||
| 1637. | Anna Hutchinson arrived in Massachusetts and banished, | 17 |
| Nineteen of her followers under William Coddington and John Clarke, purchased the Island of Aquidneck and formed settlements at Pocasset and Newport, | 17 | |
| Roger Williams proclaimed the right of religious liberty to every human being, | 18 | |
| Samuel Gorton banished from Pocasset, | 19 | |
| He denied the authority of all government except that authorized by the King and Parliament, | 19 | |
| He, with eleven others, bought Shawomet and settled there, | 19 | |
| He is besieged by troops from Massachusetts, is captured, imprisoned, and afterwards released, | 19 | |
| He is appointed to a magistracy in Aquidneck, | 19 | |
| Roger Williams prevented the alliance of the Pequots and Narragansetts, and formed one between the English and the Narragansetts, | 21 | |
| Pequots rooted out and crushed, | 21 | |
| Miantonomi treacherously put to death, | 22 | |
| The Narragansetts put themselves under the protection of the English, | 22 | |
| CHAPTER V. | ||
| CHARTER GRANTED TO PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.—ORGANIZATION UNDER IT.—THE LAWS ADOPTED. | ||
| 1643. | The charter granted to Providence Plantations, | 23 |
| Provisions of the charter, | 23 | |
| 1647. | The corporators met at Portsmouth and in a general assembly accepted the charter, and proceeded to organize under it, | 24 |
| The government declared to be democratical, | 24 | |
| President and other officers chosen, | 25 | |
| Description of the code of laws, | 25 | |
| Design for a seal adopted, | 26 | |
| Roger Williams presented with one hundred pounds for services in obtaining the charter, | 26 | |
| Spirit of the law, | 27 | |
| CHAPTER VI. | ||
| FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TROUBLES.—UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT USURPATION BY CODDINGTON. | ||
| Death of Canonicus, | 28 | |
| Possibility of the doctrine of soul liberty demonstrated, | 28 | |
| Dissensions among the colonists, | 29 | |
| Troubles with Massachusetts, | 29 | |
| Baptists persecuted in Massachusetts, | 30 | |
| 1651. | Coddington obtained a royal commission as Governor of Rhode Island and Connecticut for life, which virtually dissolved the first charter, | 30 |
| Roger Williams sent to England to ask for a confirmation of the charter, | 31 | |
| John Clarke, also, sent to ask for a revocation of Coddington’s commission, | 31 | |
| 1652. | Slaves not allowed to be held in bondage longer than ten years, | 32 |
| Commerce with the Dutch of Manhattan interrupted by war between England and Holland, | 32 | |
| Coddington’s commission revoked and the first charter restored, | 32 | |
| CHAPTER VII. | ||
| MORE FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TROUBLES.—CIVIL AND CRIMINAL REGULATIONS OF THE COLONY.—ARRIVAL OF QUAKERS. | ||
| Conscience claimed as the rule of action in civil as well as religious matters, | 33 | |
| Contentions between the Island and the main-land towns, | 34 | |
| 1654. | Court of Commissioners met and effected a reunion in the Colony, | 34 |
| Attempts of the United Colonies to make war on the Narragansetts, but they failed, as Williams had influenced Massasoit not to sanction it, | 35 | |
| Qualification of citizenship, | 36 | |
| Duties of citizenship ascendant over dignity of office, | 37 | |
| Protection of marriage, | 38 | |
| The Pawtuxet controversy settled by acknowledgement of the claims of Rhode Island, | 38 | |
| Fort built for protection against Indians, | 39 | |
| Quakers arrived. Difference of treatment of them between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, | 39 | |
| 1663. | A new charter granted by Charles II. and accepted by the colonists, | 40 |
| CHAPTER VIII. | ||
| TROUBLES IN OBTAINING A NEW CHARTER.—PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER.—DIFFICULTIES CONCERNING THE NARRAGANSETT PURCHASE.—CURRENCY.—SCHOOLS. | ||
| The new charter gave a democratic government, | 41 | |
| Some of its provisions, | 41 | |
| Religious liberty recognized by it, | 42 | |
| Assembly and courts reörganized, | 43 | |
| State magistrates chosen by the freemen, | 44 | |
| Jealousy of Massachusetts, | 44 | |
| Trouble concerning the ownership of Narragansett, | 45 | |
| Attempt to dispossess Rhode Island of part of her territory, | 46 | |
| The Narragansetts compelled to mortgage their lands to the United Colonies, | 47 | |
| New charter obtained by Connecticut extending its bounds to the Narragansett River, | 48 | |
| 1663. | The boundary line left to arbitrators who fix it at the Pawcatuck River, | 49 |
| The intrigues of John Scott for the purchase of the Narragansett tract, | 49 | |
| Letter obtained from the King, putting the Narragansett purchase under protection of Massachusetts and Connecticut, | 50 | |
| This was rendered null by the second charter of Rhode Island grant soon afterward, | 51 | |
| Wampum used as money in the Colony, | 52 | |
| Also used as an article of ornament by the natives, | 52 | |
| 1652. | Massachusetts began to coin silver in 1652, | 53 |
| Rhode Island abolished the use of wampum ten years later, | 53 | |
| 1662. | New England shilling made legal tender in Rhode Island, | 53 |
| 1640–1663. | First schools established at Providence and Newport, | 53 |
| Affirmation is declared to be equal to an oath, | 54 | |
| CHAPTER IX. | ||
| TERRITORY OF RHODE ISLAND IS INCREASED BY THE ADDITION OF BLOCK ISLAND.—DISPUTES BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND THE OTHER COLONIES SETTLED BY ROYAL COMMAND.—STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE COLONY IN 1667. | ||
| 1663 | Block Island added to Rhode Island, | 55 |
| Regulations concerning its admission, | 56 | |
| It is incorporated under the name of New Shoreham, | 56 | |
| Four Commissioners sent to America to reduce the Dutch and settle all questions of appeal between the colonies, | 57 | |
| The vexed questions of boundary line between Rhode Island and Plymouth; the Narragansett question and Warwick difficulties referred to the Commissioners, who referred the first to the King and decided the second in favor of Rhode Island, | 57 | |
| The Indians removed from King’s Province, | 59 | |
| Five propositions submitted by the Commissioners to the Rhode Island Assembly, | 59 | |
| 1st. All householders should take the oath of allegiance to the King, | 59 | |
| 2d. Mode of admitting freemen, | 59 | |
| 3d. Admission to the sacrament open to all well disposed persons, | 60 | |
| 4th. All laws and resolves derogatory to the King repealed, | 60 | |
| 5th. Provisions for self-defence, | 60 | |
| 1672. | Trouble with John Paine concerning Prudence Island, | 62 |
| Members of the Assembly to be paid for their services, | 63 | |
| Financial difficulties in the Colony, | 64 | |
| 1667. | Preparations for defence against the French, | 64 |
| 1672. | Act passed to facilitate the collection of taxes, | 65 |
| CHAPTER X. | ||
| KING PHILIP’S WAR. | ||
| Wamsutta summoned before the General Court at Plymouth, | 67 | |
| His death, | 67 | |
| Indignation of the Indians, especially King Philip, | 68 | |
| Condition of the Indians, | 68 | |
| Attack on Swanzey, | 69 | |
| The Indians pursued by the English, | 69 | |
| Philip and his allies besieged in a swamp at Pocasset, | 71 | |
| His escape, | 71 | |
| The Indian attack on Hadley, | 71 | |
| Goffe, the regicide, | 72 | |
| Philip joined the Narragansetts, | 72 | |
| Battle in the swamp, | 73 | |
| Indians defeated, and their village destroyed, | 74 | |
| Depredations in Rhode Island, | 75 | |
| Death of Canonchet, | 76 | |
| Death of Philip and end of the war, | 77 | |
| Condition of the country after the war, | 77 | |
| CHAPTER XI. | ||
| INDIANS STILL TROUBLESOME.—CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.—TROUBLES CONCERNING THE BOUNDARY LINES. | ||
| Precautions against the Indians, | 78 | |
| Troubles with Connecticut concerning Narragansett, | 79 | |
| Two agents sent to England, | 80 | |
| War party obtains power, | 80 | |
| Foundation of East Greenwich, | 82 | |
| Bitter controversy concerning the limits and extent of the Providence and Pawtuxet purchase, | 82 | |
| 1696–1712. | Settled in 1696 and 1712, | 83 |
| CHAPTER XII. | ||
| DEATH OF SEVERAL OF THE MOST PROMINENT MEN.—CHANGES IN LEGISLATION. | ||
| The United Colonies still encroached upon Rhode Island, | 84 | |
| Deaths of John Clarke, Roger Williams, Samuel Gorton, William Harris, and William Coddington, | 85 | |
| 1678. | Financial condition of the Colony in 1678, | 88 |
| Changes in the usages of election, | 89 | |
| Bankrupt law passed and afterwards repealed, | 89 | |
| Law concerning disputed titles to lands, | 90 | |
| 1679. | Law for the protection of servants, | 91 |
| Law for the protection of sailors, | 91 | |
| John Clawson’s curse, | 92 | |
| CHAPTER XIII. | ||
| COURTS AND ARMY STRENGTHENED.—COMMISSIONERS SENT FROM ENGLAND.—CHARTER REVOKED. | ||
| Disputes concerning the title of Potowomut, | 93 | |
| 1680. | Power of the town to reject or accept new citizens, | 93 |
| Efficiency of the courts increased, | 94 | |
| English navigation act injures the commercial interests of the Colony, | 95 | |
| Commissioners appointed to settle the vexed question of the King’s Province, | 96 | |
| Rhode Island’s position in New England in regard to the other colonies, | 96 | |
| Trouble with the Commissioners, | 97 | |
| Charter revoked, | 98 | |
| Rhode Island returned to its original form of government, | 98 | |
| CHAPTER XIV. | ||
| CHANGES IN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.—SIR EDMOND ANDROS APPOINTED GOVERNOR.—HE OPPRESSES THE COLONISTS AND IS FINALLY DEPOSED. | ||
| John Greene sent to England with an address to the King for the preservation of the charter, | 100 | |
| Changes in the names and the boundaries of Kingston, Westerly and East Greenwich, | 101 | |
| 1687. | Arrival of Sir Edmond Andros, | 101 |
| Taxes farmed out, | 102 | |
| Marriages made illegal unless performed by the rites of the English Church, | 103 | |
| Passport system introduced, | 103 | |
| Composition of the council, | 103 | |
| Andros’s commission enlarged, | 105 | |
| The press subjected to the will of the Governor, | 105 | |
| Title of Rhode Island to King’s Province again confirmed, | 106 | |
| Persecution of the Huguenots, | 107 | |
| Andros deposed, | 107 | |
| CHAPTER XV. | ||
| CHARTER GOVERNMENT AGAIN RESUMED.—FRENCH WAR.—INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.—CHARGES AGAINST THE COLONIES. | ||
| Chief-Justice Dudley attempted to open his court, he is seized and imprisoned, | 108 | |
| Return of the old form of government, | 108 | |
| Legality of resumption confirmed by the King, | 109 | |
| 1690. | The Assembly reorganized, | 110 |
| Town house built, | 111 | |
| The colonists taxed to sustain the French and Indian war, | 112 | |
| Coast invaded by French privateers, | 112 | |
| New taxes levied, | 113 | |
| Small-pox broke out in the Colony, | 113 | |
| 1691. | Sir William Phipps appointed Governor of Massachusetts with command over all the forces of New England, | 114 |
| This command over the forces of Rhode Island restricted to time of war, | 115 | |
| 1693. | First mail line established between Boston and Virginia, | 116 |
| State officers to be paid a regular salary, | 116 | |
| Assembly divided into two houses, | 116 | |
| Indians still troublesome, | 117 | |
| Courts of Admiralty established in the Colony, | 117 | |
| 1697–1698. | Trouble from enemies to the charter government, | 117 |
| Interests of trade fostered, | 118 | |
| Smuggling common, | 118 | |
| Charges made against the Colony by the Royal Governor, | 119 | |
| Captain Kidd, | 119 | |
| CHAPTER XVI. | ||
| COLONIAL PROSPERITY.—DIFFICULTIES OCCASIONED BY THE WAR WITH THE FRENCH.—DOMESTIC AFFAIRS OF THE COLONY. | ||
| 1702. | Prosperity of the Colony, | 120 |
| Providence the second town in the Colony, | 120 | |
| Religious freedom, | 120 | |
| Attempt to establish a Vice-Royalty over the Colonies, | 122 | |
| 1701. | Better Laws enacted, | 123 |
| 1702. | Preparations for defence, | 123 |
| 1703. | Boundary line between Rhode Island and Connecticut finally settled, | 124 |
| The character and interest of the Colony misunderstood by England, | 124 | |
| French privateer captured, | 125 | |
| Further acts of the Assembly, | 126 | |
| Slave trade, | 127 | |
| 1708. | First census taken, | 127 |
| Public auctions first held, | 128 | |
| Commercial and agricultural progress, | 128 | |
| 1709. | First printing press set up at Newport, | 129 |
| Internal improvements, | 130 | |
| CHAPTER XVII. | ||
| PAPER MONEY TROUBLES.—ESTABLISHMENT OF BANKS.—PROTECTION OF HOME INDUSTRIES.—PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUFFRAGE. | ||
| Issue of paper money, | 131 | |
| Clerk of the Assembly first elected from outside the House, | 131 | |
| Arts of peace resumed, | 132 | |
| New militia laws enacted, | 132 | |
| Laws concerning trade, | 133 | |
| Troubles occasioned by paper money, | 134 | |
| 1715. | Banks established in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, | 134 |
| Paper money question carried into election, | 134 | |
| Improvements in Newport, | 136 | |
| Criminal code, | 136 | |
| 1716. | School-houses built in Portsmouth, | 136 |
| Punishment of slander, | 137 | |
| Indian lands taken under the protection of the Colony, | 137 | |
| Law concerning intestates, | 137 | |
| 1719. | First edition of the laws printed, | 138 |
| Boundary troubles, | 138 | |
| Industry of the Colony protected by loans and bounties, | 138 | |
| 1724. | Freehold act passed, | 139 |
| 1723. | Pirate captured, | 139 |
| Evidences of the progress of the Colony, | 139 | |
| 1727. | Death of Governor Cranston, | 141 |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | ||
| CHANGE OF THE EXECUTIVE.—ACTS OF THE ASSEMBLY.—GEORGE BERKELEY’S RESIDENCE IN NEWPORT.—FRIENDLY FEELING BETWEEN THE COLONISTS AND THE MOTHER COUNTRY. | ||
| New Governor elected, | 142 | |
| State of affairs in England, | 142 | |
| 1728. | Revision of the criminal code, | 143 |
| Laws for the encouragement and regulation of trade, | 144 | |
| 1727. | Earthquake, | 145 |
| 1723–1724. | Division of the Colony into counties, | 146 |
| George Berkeley, | 146 | |
| Establishment of Redwood Library, | 147 | |
| Laws concerning charitable institutions, Quakers and Indians, | 147 | |
| 1730. | New census taken, | 148 |
| 1731. | New bank voted, | 149 |
| Commercial prosperity, | 149 | |
| New edition of the laws published, | 149 | |
| Fisheries encouraged, | 150 | |
| Regulation concerning election, | 150 | |
| William Wanton chosen Governor, | 152 | |
| Depreciation of paper money, | 152 | |
| 1733. | Marriage laws, | 152 |
| John Wanton chosen Governor, | 153 | |
| Watchfulness of the Board of Trade, | 153 | |
| 1735–1736. | Throat distemper, | 154 |
| Law against bribery at elections, | 154 | |
| Arrival of his Majesty’s ship Tartar, | 155 | |
| Means of protection against fire, | 155 | |
| CHAPTER XIX. | ||
| WAR WITH SPAIN.—NEW TAXES LEVIED BY ENGLAND.—RELIGIOUS AWAKENING AMONG THE BAPTISTS. | ||
| Preparation for war against the Spaniards, | 156 | |
| Great expedition against the Spanish West Indies, | 157 | |
| New taxes levied on importations by England, | 157 | |
| Death of Governor Wanton, who is succeeded by Richard Ward, | 158 | |
| Arrival of Whitefield and Fothergill, | 159 | |
| Further provisions for the defence of the Colony, | 159 | |
| Report of the Governor concerning paper money, | 160 | |
| 1741. | Boundary line between Rhode Island and Massachusetts settled, | 161 |
| CHAPTER XX. | ||
| PROGRESS OF THE WAR WITH THE FRENCH.—CHANGE IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS.—SENSE OF COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPING AMONG THE COLONISTS.—LOUISBURG CAPTURED. | ||
| Privateers fitted out, | 162 | |
| 1741. | James Greene started an iron works, | 162 |
| Changes of the jurisdictions of the courts, | 163 | |
| Encroachments of Connecticut, | 163 | |
| 1741. | Newport Artillery chartered, | 165 |
| Counterfeit bills troublesome, | 164 | |
| 1744. | Lotteries legalized, | 165 |
| Rhode Island’s part in the capture of Louisburg, | 165 | |
| Death of Colonel John Cranston, | 166 | |
| Two privateers and two hundred men lost, | 166 | |
| Sense of common interest and mutual dependence gaining ground, | 166 | |
| Caution against fraudulent voting, | 167 | |
| Disaster to the French armada, | 168 | |
| 1746. | Close of the campaign, | 168 |
| Accession of territory, | 168 | |
| CHAPTER XXI. | ||
| ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO SPECIE PAYMENTS.—CHANGES IN THE REQUIREMENTS OF CITIZENSHIP.—NEW COUNTIES AND TOWNS FORMED.—FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.—WARD AND HOPKINS CONTEST.—ESTABLISHMENT OF NEWSPAPERS. | ||
| 1748. | Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, | 170 |
| Hutchinson’s scheme for returning to specie payment rejected by Rhode Island, | 171 | |
| Act against swearing revised, | 172 | |
| Provisions concerning legal residence, | 172 | |
| New census taken, | 172 | |
| 1748–1749. | Death of John Callender, | 173 |
| Beaver Tail Light built, | 173 | |
| Troubles from depreciation of currency, | 173 | |
| 1754. | First divorce granted, | 174 |
| Kent County formed, | 174 | |
| 1752. | Gregorian calendar adopted, | 175 |
| Troubles concerning the Narragansett land settled, | 175 | |
| 1753. | First patent granted in the Colony for making potash, | 175 |
| Fellowship Club founded—afterwards the Newport Marine Society, | 176 | |
| 1754. | Commissioners sent to the Albany Congress, | 176 |
| French and Indian war, | 177 | |
| French settlers imprisoned, | 178 | |
| Ward and Hopkins contest, | 178 | |
| Providence court house and library burned, | 179 | |
| David Douglass built a theatre at Providence, | 180 | |
| 1758. | Newport Mercury established, | 180 |
| 1762. | Providence Gazette established, | 180 |
| Writs of assistance first called for, | 181 | |
| 1759. | Death of Richard Partridge, | 181 |
| Freemasonry first introduced into the Colony, | 181 | |
| Regulations concerning fires, | 181 | |
| Towns of Hopkinton and Johnston formed, | 182 | |
| CHAPTER XXII. | ||
| RETROSPECT.—ENCROACHMENTS OF ENGLAND.—RESISTANCE TO THE REVENUE LAWS.—STAMP ACT.—SECOND CONGRESS OF COLONIES MET AT NEW YORK.—EDUCATIONAL INTEREST. | ||
| Resumé of the progress of the Colony, | 183 | |
| Reason for the enactment of the laws, | 184 | |
| Rhode Island’s solution of the problem of self-government and soul-liberty, | 185 | |
| Encroachments of England on the liberties of the colonies, | 186 | |
| War had taught the colonies a much needed lesson, | 187 | |
| Harbor improvements, | 188 | |
| Parliament votes men and money for the defence of the American colonies, | 188 | |
| Restrictions of commerce, | 189 | |
| 1764. | Molasses and sugar act renewed and extended, | 189 |
| Resistance to the enforcement of the obnoxious revenue laws, | 190 | |
| Action of the colonies in regard to the stamp act, | 191 | |
| England is obliged to repeal the stamp act, | 193 | |
| Resistance to impressment, | 193 | |
| 1765. | Second Colonial Congress met at New York and issued addresses to the people, Parliament, and to the King, | 194 |
| New digest of the laws completed and printed, | 195 | |
| 1766. | Free schools established at Providence, | 196 |
| Brown University founded, | 196 | |
| Iron mine discovered, | 197 | |
| CHAPTER XXIII. | ||
| TRANSIT OF VENUS.—A STRONG DISLIKE TO ENGLAND MORE OPENLY EXPRESSED.—NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENT.—INTRODUCTION OF SLAVES PROHIBITED.—CAPTURE OF THE GASPEE. | ||
| Collision between British officers and citizens, | 199 | |
| Dedication of liberty trees, | 199 | |
| Laws concerning domestic interests, | 199 | |
| Transit of Venus, | 200 | |
| Armed resistance to England more openly talked of, | 201 | |
| Scuttling of the sloop-of-war Liberty, | 202 | |
| Non-importation of tea agreed to, | 203 | |
| Prosperity of Newport, | 203 | |
| First Commencement at Rhode Island College, | 204 | |
| 1770. | Further introduction of slaves prohibited, | 204 |
| Governor Hutchinson advanced a claim for the command of the Rhode Island militia, | 205 | |
| Evidence of justice in Rhode Island, | 206 | |
| Capture and destruction of the schooner Gaspee, | 207 | |
| CHAPTER XXIV. | ||
| PROPOSITION FOR THE UNION OF THE COLONIES.—ACTIVE MEASURES TAKEN LOOKING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.—DELEGATES ELECTED TO CONGRESS.—DESTRUCTION OF TEA AT PROVIDENCE.—TROOPS RAISED.—POSTAL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED.—DEPREDATIONS OF THE BRITISH.—“GOD SAVE THE UNITED COLONIES.” | ||
| 1774. | Limitation of negro slavery, | 210 |
| Resolution recommending the union of the colonies passed at Providence town meeting, | 210 | |
| 1774. | Boston port bill passed, | 211 |
| Small-pox at Newport, | 211 | |
| Indication of popular indignation, | 212 | |
| Activity of Committees of Correspondence, | 212 | |
| Publishment of the Hutchinson letters, | 213 | |
| Franklin removed from his position as superintendent of American post-offices, | 214 | |
| 1774. | General Gage entered Boston as Governor, | 215 |
| Sympathy of Rhode Island for Boston; East Greenwich the first to open a subscription, | 215 | |
| Hopkins and Ward elected delegates to Congress, | 216 | |
| 1774. | Congress met in Philadelphia; adopted a declaration of rights; recommended the formation of an American Association, | 217 |
| Distribution of arms, | 218 | |
| Exportation of sheep stopped; manufacture of fire-arms begun, | 219 | |
| Tea burnt at Providence, | 219 | |
| Troops started for Boston, | 219 | |
| Army of Observation formed with Nathanael Greene, commander, | 220 | |
| Rhode Island troops on Jamaica Plains, | 221 | |
| Articles of war passed, | 221 | |
| Capture of a British vessel by Captain Abraham Whipple, | 221 | |
| Rhode Island Navy founded, | 222 | |
| William Goddard’s postal system went into operation, | 222 | |
| Colony put upon a war footing, | 223 | |
| Bristol bombarded and the coast of Rhode Island plundered, | 224 | |
| Part of the debt of Rhode Island assumed by Congress as a war debt, | 225 | |
| Rhode Island in the expedition against Quebec, | 226 | |
| Depredation of the British squadron, | 226 | |
| Battle on Prudence Island, | 227 | |
| Evacuation of Boston, | 228 | |
| Death of Samuel Ward, | 228 | |
| The Assembly of Rhode Island renounced their allegiance to the British Crown, | 228 | |
| CHAPTER XXV. | ||
| RHODE ISLAND BLOCKADED.—DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE INDORSED BY THE ASSEMBLY.— NEW TROOPS RAISED.—FRENCH ALLIANCE.—UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE BRITISH FROM RHODE ISLAND. | ||
| Islands and waters of Rhode Island taken possession of by the British, | 229 | |
| Quota of Rhode Island, | 230 | |
| Inoculation introduced, | 231 | |
| Treatment of Tories, | 231 | |
| Declaration of Independence indorsed by the Assembly, | 232 | |
| Rhode Island’s part in the Continental Navy, | 232 | |
| Convention of Eastern States to form a concerted plan of action, | 233 | |
| Financial troubles, | 234 | |
| Regiment of negroes raised, | 234 | |
| 1778. | Tidings of the French alliance received, | 235 |
| Expedition against Bristol and Warren, | 235 | |
| Attempt to drive the British from Rhode Island rendered unsuccessful by a terrible storm, and jealousy among the officers of the French fleet, | 236 | |
| CHAPTER XXVI. | ||
| ACTS OF THE BRITISH TROOPS.—DISTRESS IN RHODE ISLAND.—EVACUATION OF NEWPORT.—REPUDIATION.—END OF THE WAR. | ||
| Disappointment of the Americans, | 241 | |
| Wanton destruction of life and property by the British, | 241 | |
| Pigot galley captured by Talbot, | 242 | |
| Scarcity of food in Rhode Island, | 242 | |
| Steuben’s tactics introduced into the army, | 244 | |
| Difficulty in raising money, | 244 | |
| British left Newport, | 245 | |
| Town records carried off by the British, | 246 | |
| Repudiation of debt, | 247 | |
| Rhode Island’s quota, | 248 | |
| Preparations for quartering and feeding the troops, | 249 | |
| An English fleet of sixteen ships menaced the Rhode Island coast, | 250 | |
| Assembly met at Newport; the first time in four years, | 250 | |
| 1781. | End of the war, | 251 |
| The federation completed, | 251 | |
| CHAPTER XXVII. | ||
| ARTS OF PEACE RESUMED.—DOCTRINE OF STATE RIGHTS. | ||
| Name of King’s County changed to Washington, | 252 | |
| New census taken, | 253 | |
| Question of State Rights raised, | 253 | |
| 1782. | Nicholas Cooke died, | 254 |
| Armed resistance to the collection of taxes, | 254 | |
| Troubles arising from financial embarrassment, | 255 | |
| 1783. | Acts of the Assembly, | 256 |
| CHAPTER XXVIII. | ||
| DEPRECIATION OF THE CURRENCY.—INTRODUCTION OF THE SPINNING-JENNY.—BITTER OPPOSITION TO THE FEDERAL UNION.—RHODE ISLAND FINALLY ACCEPTS THE CONSTITUTION. | ||
| Desperate attempt to float a new issue of paper money, | 257 | |
| Forcing acts declared unconstitutional, | 258 | |
| First spinning-jenny made in the United States, | 259 | |
| Bill passed to pay five shillings in the pound for paper money, | 260 | |
| Refusal of Rhode Island to send delegates to the Federal Convention, | 261 | |
| Proposed United States Constitution printed, | 261 | |
| Acceptance of the Constitution by various states, | 261 | |
| State of manufactures, | 262 | |
| 1790. | Rhode Island declared her adhesion to the Union, | 264 |
| CHAPTER XXIX. | ||
| MODE OF LIFE IN OUR FOREFATHERS’ DAYS. | ||
| Early condition of the land, | 265 | |
| Agriculture the principal pursuit of the early settlers, | 266 | |
| Early traveling, | 267 | |
| Early means of education, | 267 | |
| Amusements, | 268 | |
| CHAPTER XXX. | ||
| COMMERCIAL GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF RHODE ISLAND. | ||
| Rhode Island wiser on account of her previous struggles for self-government, | 270 | |
| Commercial condition of Rhode Island, | 271 | |
| Trade with East Indies commenced, | 271 | |
| 1790. | First cotton factory went into operation, | 273 |
| 1799. | Free school system established, | 273 |
| 1819. | Providence Institution for Savings founded, | 274 |
| Canal from the Providence River to the north line of the state projected and failed, | 274 | |
| 1801. | Great fire in Providence, | 274 |
| Visit of Washington to Rhode Island, | 275 | |
| 1832. | Providence made a city, | 275 |
| Rhode Island in the War of 1812, | 276 | |
| CHAPTER XXXI. | ||
| THE DORR REBELLION. | ||
| The Right of Suffrage becomes the question of Rhode Island’s politics, | 277 | |
| Inequality of representation, | 278 | |
| No relief obtainable from the Assembly, | 278 | |
| Formation of Suffrage Associations, | 279 | |
| Peoples’ Constitution, so called, voted for, | 279 | |
| 1842. | Thomas Wilson Dorr elected Governor under it, | 280 |
| Conflict between the old and new government, | 280 | |
| Attempt of the Dorr government to organize and seize the arsenal both failures, | 281 | |
| End of the War, | 281 | |
| Dorr tried for treason and sentenced to imprisonment for life; afterwards restored to his political and civil rights, | 281 | |
| New Constitution adopted, | 282 | |
| Freedom of thought and speech the foundation of Rhode Island’s prosperity, | 282 | |
| CHAPTER XXXII. | ||
| LIFE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.—THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.—THE CENTENARY. | ||
| Life under the Constitution, | 283 | |
| The War of the Rebellion, | 283 | |
| Rhode Island’s quota, | 284 | |
| The Centennial Exposition, | 285 | |
| APPENDIX. | ||
| King Charles’ Charter, | 291 | |
| Present State Constitution, | 301 | |
| Copy of the Dorr Constitution, | 317 | |
| State seal, | 333 | |
| Governors of Rhode Island, | 334 | |
| Deputy-Governors of Rhode Island, | 337 | |
| Members of the Continental Congress, | 339 | |
| Towns, date of incorporation, &c., | 340 | |
| Population from 1708 to 1875, | 345 | |
| State valuation, | 348 | |
| The Corliss Engine at the Centennial Exposition, | 349 | |
A Short History of Rhode Island.