Rhode Island Timeline of Events

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Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...

Timeline of Events

1635

10.9.1635

Founder of Rhode Island Roger Williams is banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a religious dissident after he speaks out against punishments for religious offenses and giving away Native American land.

1636

7.4.1636

City of Providence, Rhode Island forms.

1652

5.18.1652

Rhode Island passes the first law in North America making slavery illegal.

1663

7.8.1663

Charles II of England grants John Clarke a Royal Charter to Rhode Island.

1772

6.9.1772

The British schooner ''Gaspée'' is burned off the coast of Rhode Island.

1774

6.13.1774

Rhode Island becomes the first of Britain's North American colonies to ban the importation of slaves.

1790

5.29.1790

Rhode Island becomes the last of the original United States' colonies to ratify the Constitution and is admitted as the 13th U.S. state.

1981

4.18.1981

The longest professional baseball game is begun in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The game was suspended at 4:00 the next morning and finally completed on June 23.

2003

2.20.2003

During a Great White concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island, a pyrotechnics display sets the club ablaze, killing 100 and injuring over 200 others.