Colonizing Rhode Island By Kaylee Schaffnit and Mercer

Colonizing Rhode Island By Kaylee Schaffnit and Mercer Webb

Politics and Government ● Government: ○ Direct democracy ○ People play direct part in decision making ● Rhode Island’s Founding and political development ○ Founded by Roger Williams 1636 and ○ Religious refugees ○ Guaranteed religious and political freedom

● How did the government come to power? : ○ Self government where every individual has a voice ○ Direct democracy ○ Voted their political leaders ● Who could make political decisions? : ○ Charter from King Charles said landowners were allowed to vote

Rhode Island Culture ● Overall Culture ○ Status was measured in material wealth, job and religion ○ “Town Culture” ○ “Hope State” ● Diverse Religion ○ Roger Williams was responsible for founding Rhode Island creating “church and state” ○ Many nonconformists migrated to Rhode Island because of its ability to separate church and state ○ Varieties of religions settled in RI because of the religious freedom ○ Home to the first American Jewish synagogue and Baptist church

● Structures and Tools ○ Three settlements (Providence, Newport and Portsmouth) joined to form the “Colony of Rhode Island Providence plantations” https: //www. worldtravelguide. net/guides/north-america/united-states-of-america/rhode-island/history-language-culture/ ○ The colony utilized textile mills to aid in the demand during the Industrial Revolution. ○ The Puritan meetinghouse was also a very important structure. ■ They conducted sermons and town meetings ● Education ○ Because of the religious freedom of the colony, education was not primarily based on the teachings of the church. ○ Just like current day, there were public and private schools in the colonies. ○ Children were taught the trade of what their father’s pursued. ○ Schools were much smaller than schools today.

● Cultural Norms ○ The amount of food was limited during the beginning of settlement since they arrived in winter. According to The Roger Williams Initiative, the Native Americans taught them how make a “small meal that they would carry in small pouches, allowing them to travel great distances without having to carry anything heavy. ” ○ Hobbies contained fishing and town gatherings

History of Rhode Island ● When and how did the colony begin? : ○ Purchased land from Narragansett Indians ○ Founded first permanent settlement in provide 1636 ● Major events and developments: ○ 1636 Roger Williams founded providence to establish the Rhode Island colony ○ 1776 Rhode Island declares independence from Great Britain on May 4 th

● How does the history of the colony make it unique? : ○ Religious freedoms and values ○ Citizens help with political decisions ● Colony’s primary characteristics quote: ○ “The Rhode Island colony was founded by those who wanted to escape lack of religious tolerance found in other New England colonies. It’s founder Roger Williams was a former colonist and religious exile from the Massachusetts colony. This is where Religious tolerance did not exist among Puritans

Summary of the quote This shows that there were people who wanted to break off from the Puritan beliefs and create a colony where all individual beliefs and values were accepted.

Rhode Island Economy ● Necessities ○ Rhode Island was able to create a lot of their necessities “on site’ ○ What they could not make, they traded with either other colonies or countries ● Occupations ○ Many jobs depend on class or location ■ High class = educated and held public office ■ Middle class= tradesmen, appretiances, servants, working in small town stores ■ Lower class = illiterate and did not own land ■ Along the coast = fishing, shipbuilding, whaling and shipping goods

● Environment ○ All of the New England Colonies endured long cold winters but were able to suffer from “less disease than the warmer colonies. ” https: //www. landofthebrave. info/rhodeisland-colony. htm ○ Due to short farming seasons, Rhode Island had to be smart and only farm for their family and farm animals.

● Self Reliant ○ Extremely self reliant - specialized in Manufacturing and Trade ■ The colonists relied on manufacturing industries ■ Rhode Island took the raw goods from other countries and created manufactured products ● Trade ○ Although they made a lot themselves, they still traded often ○ MAJOR TRADE IN THE 1700’S ■ Raw resources included rum, timber, fur, maple syrup, copper, whiskey, beer, livestock ■ Traded for raw resources from Caribbean which they could turn into goods. ■ Greatly benefited from the import of African Slaves

Marketing executive Why choose Rhode Island? ● Guaranteed religious and political freedom ● Job opportunities and resources: Fishing, whaling, manufacturing of ships, rum, exporting/ importing goods, and some farming ● Geography: Flat landscape with rolling hills and 400 miles of coastline

Citations “The American’s British Textbook” file: ///home/chronos/u 8 a 7 ecb 1 ceb 75 a 2 c 6 d 454722 f 3 f 78 d 1 e 7270 e 5901/Downloads/british_colonies_book_chapter. pdf “State of Rhode Island: Nellie M. Gorbea>. ” State of Rhode Island: Nellie M. Gorbea, An Official Rhode Island State Website , sos. ri. gov/divisions/Civics-And-Education/RI-History. “Education in the 13 American Colonies. ” Education in the Thirteen American Colonies , www. socialstudiesforkids. com/articles/ushistory/13 coloniesschool. htm. “Roger Williams. ” Edited by Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, History. com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www. history. com/topics/roger-williams.

Citations Cont. , “Education in the 13 American Colonies. ” Education in the Thirteen American Colonies www. socialstudiesforkids. com/articles/ushistory/13 coloniesschool. htm. “Rhode Island Colony. ” Rhode Island Colony , www. landofthebrave. info/rhode-islandcolony. htm.

“Government. ” Welcome to Colonial Rhode Island! By: Kloepsolo, https: //sswelcometorhodeisland. weebly. com/government. html History. com Staff. “Rhode Island. ” History. com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, https: //www. history. com/topics/us-states/rhode-island “All About Rhode Island. ” All about Rhode Island , Sheppard Software , www. sheppardsoftware. com/usaweb/snapshot/Rhode_Island. htm. History. com, A&E Television Networks, https: //sswelcometorhodeisland. weebly. com/government. html “Government. ” Rhode Island Colony, rhode-islandhttp: //rhode-island-colony. weebly. com/government. html

“Voting Rights and the Dorr Rebellion. ” Samuel Slater - Father of the American Industrial Revolution, http: //www. woonsocket. org/dorrwar. html “Rhode Island Colony Facts. ” Math, http: //www. softschools. com/facts/13_colonies/rhode_island_colony_facts/2044/