| 19 Jul 1776 |
the Declaration of Independence of the United States is approved in accordance with a resolution passed by the General Assembly of Rhode Island at a session held in Newport (Lower House on 19 Jul 1776, House of Magistrates concurs in on 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 Declaration of Independence of the United States is read and published at a ceremony held in Newport on 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 (Lower House on 20 Jul 1776; House of Magistrates concurs in on 20 Jul 1776, with an amendment; Lower House concurs in the amendment on the same day) (Rhode Island House of Magistrates Journal, MS, 1776, May-September, fl. 30; Rhode Island Session Laws, 1776, July, p. 128; Newport Mercury, No. 936, 22 Jul 1776, p. 4) |
| 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 (Lower House on 16 Feb 1778; House of Magistrates concurs in on 16 Feb 1778) (Rhode Island House of Delegates Journal, MS, 1777-1778, n.p.; Rhode Island House of Magistrates Journal, MS, 1777-1778, n.p.; 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 at the session of the Continental Congress held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 9 Jul 1778 (Continental Congress Journals, 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 (Continental Congress Journals, 19:213-223) |
| 5 Nov 1842 |
the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is adopted and signed at a session of the Convention held at East Greenwich on 5 Nov 1842, pending ratification by the people of Rhode Island (Rhode Island Convention 1842, p. 25) |
| 23 Jan 1843 |
the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is ratified by a vote of the people of Rhode Island held on 21, 22 and 23 Nov 1842, the results of which are certified by the General Assembly on 13 Jan 1843 and declared by proclamation of the Governor on 23 Jan 1843 (Newport Mercury, No. 4213, 21 Jan 1843, p. 2; Rhode Island Session Laws, 1843, January session, pp. 9-10; Herald of the Times, No. 44, 26 Jan 1843, p. 2) |
| 2 May 1843 |
the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations comes into operation on 2 May 1843, the date appointed by Art. XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution (Rhode Island Constitution 1842, p. 19) |
| 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 |
