User:Golbez/sandbox/RI

The history of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations began in 1636, when Roger Williams, exiled from the Province of Massachusetts Bay, purchased land from the Narragansett and founded Providence at the head of Narragansett Bay. He secured a parliamentary patent in 1644 for Providence Plantation, bordering Plymouth Colony to the east, Massachusetts Bay Colony to the north, and the land of the Pequot to the west. In 1663 it was granted a self-governing corporate charter and renamed the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Along with the other Thirteen Colonies, it declared independence in 1776, and it was the final colony to ratify the Constitution of the United States, becoming the 13th state.

The colony's borders remained generally the same throughout its history, with alterations to the northeast corner, expansion across Narragansett Bay, and gaining Block Island. A notable exception is the 41-year border dispute with Connecticut Colony, which led at one point to the southern half of Rhode Island Colony being placed under direct royal jurisdiction. From 1686 to 1689, the colony was part of the Dominion of New England. Since becoming a state in 1790, its external borders have changed only once, exchanging land with Massachusetts.

This list includes not only changes to Rhode Island's borders but also those immediately around it, to supply historical context.

The charter for Providence Plantation was granted to Roger Williams, who had founded the colony in 1636. It consisted of most of the mainland portion of the current state of Rhode Island west of Narragansett Bay, as well as the islands of the bay. The Province of Massachusetts Bay was to the north, and Plymouth Colony was to the east, across the bay. The western border was generally undefined. The settlement of Pawtuxet, founded in 1638, had been under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts Bay since 1642 due to a request from disgruntled settlers.
 * March 14, 1644

The settlement of Pawtuxet rejoined Providence Plantation.
 * May 26, 1658

The Colony of Connecticut was chartered, claiming an eastern boundary at Narragansett Bay, overlapping Providence Plantation's charter. The disputed portion was called Narragansett Country.
 * April 23, 1662

Providence Plantation was granted a new charter as a self-governing corporate county, and was renamed the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The charter granted it Block Island and some mainland area from Plymouth Colony on the east side of the bay, as well as filling out its northeastern corner with land from the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
 * July 8, 1663

Plymouth's borders were surveyed, gaining land from Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island.
 * May 9, 1664

The eastern border of Rhode Island was clarified; Plymouth retook the area east of Narragansett Bay, and the notch in the northeast of Rhode Island was returned to Massachusetts Bay. (verify notch)
 * February 27, 1665

Narragansett Country was placed under direct royal jurisdiction and renamed King's Province, under Rhode Island's administration.
 * April 8, 1665

The Dominion of New England was created, uniting King's Province and the Provinces of Maine, Massachusetts Bay, and New Hampshire.
 * May 17, 1686

The Dominion of New England created a provisional government in King's Province, and prohibited Connecticut and Rhode Island from exercising authority there.
 * May 28, 1686

Rhode Island was incorporated into the Dominion of New England.
 * December 30, 1686

Following the Glorious Revolution, the Dominion of New England was dissolved.
 * April 18, 1689

Rhode Island reinstated its former government and began exercising authority over King's Province, which Connecticut challenged.
 * May 1, 1689

The Province of Massachusetts Bay is chartered, incorporating Plymouth Colony.
 * October 7, 1691

Rhode Island and Connecticut came to a border agreement, ending the dispute over King's Province in Rhode Island's favor. The decision was confirmed in London on February 20, 1726.
 * May 12, 1703

The colony created its first two counties: Providence Plantations, consisting of the mainland; and Rhode Island, consisting of the islands.
 * June 22, 1703

Providence Plantations County was renamed Providence County, and Rhode Island County was renamed Newport County. Kings County was created from the southern third of Providence County.
 * June 16, 1729

(apostrophe, King's?)

Rhode Island gained from Massachusetts Bay, filling out Providence County's northeast corner and gaining land on the east side of Narragansett Bay. Bristol County is created from the northern portion of the area across the bay, the remainder being added to Newport County.
 * February 17, 1747

Kent County was created from the southern third of Providence County. (look through this one for details)
 * June 11, 1750

Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, and ten other colonies declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Rhode Island notably did so earlier on May 4, but the United States Declaration of Independence was enacted by the Continental Congress on behalf of all the colonies.
 * July 4, 1776

Kings County was renamed Washington County.
 * October 29, 1781

Rhode Island ratified the Constitution, becoming the 13th state admitted to the Union.
 * May 29, 1790

The border with Massachusetts was adjusted, adding some land to Providence County, connecting Bristol County by land with the rest of the state, but losing some land from Newport County.
 * March 1, 1862

Washington County gained Block Island from Newport County.
 * May 6, 1963