Rhode Island: Polity Style: 1663-2024 |
| 8/18 Jul 1663 |
a royal charter is granted by the King of England to the Governor and Company of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America (Rhode Island Records, 2:1-21) |
| 8/18 Jul 1663 - 12/22 Jan 1687 |
Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations [1] |
| 24 Nov/4 Dec 1663 |
the Charter is presented to the General Court, session of the Court, Newport (Rhode Island Records, 1:508-511) |
| 12/22 Jan 1687 |
the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is annexed to the Territory and Dominion of New England upon the proclamation of Royal Commission and dissolution of colonial government, Newport (Callender, 48) [2][3] |
| 1/11 May 1689 |
declaration on the resumption of the Charter of 1663 is passed, governor and deputy governor are confirmed in offices, session of the General Assembly, Newport (Rhode Island Records, 3:267-269) [4] |
| 26 Feb/8 Mar 1690 |
government of the colony Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in accordance with the Charter of 1663 is de facto restored upon the convening of the General Assembly, session of the General Assembly, Newport (Rhode Island Records, 3:259-260) |
| 26 Feb/8 Mar 1690 - 20 Jul 1776 |
Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations [1] |
| 4 May 1776 |
exercise of authority in the name of the King of Great Britain is terminated, government is to be carried out in the name of the Government and Company of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in accordance with an act passed by the General Assembly (passed by the Lower House 4 May 1776, concurred in by the House of Magistrates 4 May 1776) (Rhode Island House of Magistrates Journal, MS, 1776, May-September, fl. 11; Rhode Island Session Laws, 1776, May, pp. 22-26) [5] |
| 4 Jul 1776 |
the British colonies represented in the Continental Congress are proclaimed "free and independent states" in accordance with a declaration approved by the Congress on 4 Jul 1776, session of the Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Journals of the Continental Congress, 5:510-515) |
| 19 Jul 1776 |
the Declaration of Independence passed by the Continental Congress on 4 Jul 1776 is approved in accordance with a resolution passed by the General Assembly (passed by the Lower House 19 Jul 1776, concurred in by the House of Magistrates 19 Jul 1776) (Rhode Island House of Magistrates Journal, MS, 1776, May-September, fl. 29; Rhode Island Session Laws, 1776, July, p. 127) |
| 20 Jul 1776 |
the style and title of the government is changed to the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in accordance with an act passed by the General Assembly (passed by the Lower House 20 Jul 1776, concurred in with an amendment by the House of Magistrates 20 Jul 1776, amendment concurred in by the Lower House the same day) (Rhode Island House of Magistrates Journal, MS, 1776, May-September, fl. 30; Rhode Island Session Laws, 1776, July, p. 128) |
| 20 Jul 1776 - 30 Nov 2020 |
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
| 16 Feb 1778 |
the delegates of Rhode Island to the Continental Congress are authorized to sign the Articles of Confederation in accordance with the resolutions passed by the General Assembly (passed by the Lower House ? Feb 1778, House of Magistrates 16 Feb 1778) (Rhode Island House of Magistrates Journal, MS, 1777-1778, fl. 33; Rhode Island Session Laws, 1778, February, pp. 24-28) |
| 9 Jul 1778 |
the engrossed copy of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union is signed and ratified by the delegates of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina to the Continental Congress, session of the Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Journals of the Continental Congress, 11:677) |
| 1 Mar 1781 |
Rhode Island
formed part of the United States upon the taking effect of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union (Journals of the Continental Congress, 19:213-223) |
| 22 Jun 2020 |
the word "plantations" is removed from official use in accordance with an executive order of the Governor issued on 22 Jun 2020 (source) |
| 30 Nov 2020 |
the name of the state is changed to the State of Rhode Island in accordance with the amendments to the Constitution approved at the referendum held on 3 Nov 2020 (results certified on 30 Nov 2020) (source) |
| 30 Nov 2020 - |
State of Rhode Island |
| |
| [1] |
In more formal use: (His Majesty's) English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, in America |
| [2] |
Only a disputed area claimed by both Rhode Island and Connectucut, the Narraganset Country (King's Province), was listed among the colonies and lands to compose the Territory and Dominion of New England in Royal Commissions to the President of the Council of New England (Joseph Dudley) and first Governor-in-Chief of New England (Sir Edmund Andros), dated 8/18 Oct 1685 and 3/13 Jun 1686 respectively. However, the "additional powers and instructions" (dated 13/23 Sep 1686) empowered Andros to demand the surrender of the Charter of Rhode Island and to take the whole colony under his government. |
| [3] |
The annexation was never formalized as the governor tacitly refused to surrender the original copy of the Charter of 1663 to the Governor-in-Chief of New England. |
| [4] |
Despite the passing of the declaration, the governor and deputy governor did not resume their duties until 26 Feb/8 Mar 1690. |
| [5] |
Full title: An Act repealing an Act entitled "An Act for the effectual securing to His Majesty the Allegiance of His Subjects in this his Colony and Dominion of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations;" and altering the Form of Commissions, of all Writs and Processes in the Courts, and of the Oaths prescribed by Law. |
