What Form of Government Do We Have in Rhode Island?
Government in Colonial Rhode Island:
After Anne Hutchinson and her followers established a home in Portsmouth, Rhode Island in 1638, they set up a new government which was based ons such concepts as trial by jury and separation of church and state.
The king provided the Patent for Providence Plantations to Williams which was issued to the "Incorporation of Providence Plantations in the Narragansett Bay in New England." This initial charter gave the original settlers the power to govern themselves, but was simply a charter of incorporation and contained no formal grant of land. However, this patent was remarkable, because it was the first time a king in Europe did not require that the religion of the king had to be the religion of his colony. Instead, this charter granted religious freedom to the people of Rhode Island.
After The Restoration in England, the first charter was no longer considered valid so Rhode Islanders asked Charles II to grant a new charter which would protect their basic rights that had been granted under the first patent. In 1663 the king issued a document which was probably the most liberal charter granted by an English monarch in the colonial era called the Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
This charter once again guaranteed religious freedom and allowed for self government. It also united all of the settlements in Rhode Island under one colony.
As a result, colonial Rhode Island became a Charter Colony which was largely self-governed. The charter established the rules of government, but allowed the Rhode Island colonists a great amount of freedom within those rules. The organization of Government in Colonial Rhode Island was structured as follows:
As a result, colonial Rhode Island became a Charter Colony which was largely self-governed. The charter established the rules of government, but allowed the Rhode Island colonists a great amount of freedom within those rules. The organization of Government in Colonial Rhode Island was structured as follows:
- The Governor of Colonial Rhode Island held the executive power in the colony representing the Crown (England)
- The Governor’s Council of Colonial Rhode Island was composed of influential and powerful men who advised and supported the Governor and had judicial and administrative powers
- An Assembly was elected by and represented the citizens of the towns and counties of Colonial Rhode Island. Its jobs included making laws, monitoring relations and trade with the Indians, and forming emergency troops call militia to protect the colony.
- There were regular town meetings.
- Initially, only married men could vote in Rhode Island. Later, the right to vote was granted to land owners instead.
In conclusion, we Rhode Islanders have a participatory form of government that is the envy of the other colonies. We are so proud of our charter that it was the law of our land for 180 years.
This building is the old Colony House which was the home of Rhode Island's legislature from 1741 through to the early 20th century.