Jonah Patel
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so more than a year after it went into effect. The state was nicknamed Rogue Island due to its opposition to the Constitution and its refusal to participate in the Constitutional Convention. Rhode Island's ratification included a list of caveats and proposed amendments, reflecting the state's desire for control over its monetary policy and concerns about the slave trade. The state's large Quaker population was particularly opposed to the slave trade provisions in the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opposition to the Constitution | Rhode Island was the only state that did not initially ratify the US Constitution. |
| Reasons for opposition | Fear of losing control over monetary policy, opposition to the slave trade, aversion to federal taxes and lengthy terms for Congress members, and a desire to limit federal power. |
| Nicknames | "Rogue Island", "Perverse Sister", "Evil Genius", "Quintessence of Villainy" |
| Role in Advancing the Constitution | Played a key role in advancing the Constitution despite its strong opposition. |
| Ratification | Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution on May 29, 1790, with a vote of 34-32. |
| Amendments | Rhode Island attached a list of 18 human rights and 21 amendments to its ratification, including a ban on the slave trade and poll taxes. |
| Referendum | Rhode Island held a statewide referendum on the Constitution on March 24, 1788, which was overwhelmingly defeated. |
| Convention Boycott | Rhode Island repeatedly rejected calls for a convention to ratify the Constitution, instead opting for a referendum. |
| Trade Embargo | The US threatened a trade embargo against Rhode Island for non-compliance with the Constitution. |
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What You'll Learn
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution
Rhode Island was the last of the 13 states to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on May 29, 1790, more than a year after it went into effect. The state had a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies that had formed the United States.
Rhode Island was the only state that did not participate in the initial proceedings of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The state's opposition was chiefly due to the paper money issued in Rhode Island pounds since 1786 by the governing Country Party, which was used to pay off the state's burdensome Revolutionary War debt. Other issues included fear of direct federal taxes and aversion to the lengthy terms for members of Congress. The state's large Quaker population was also offended by provisions on the slave trade.
Between September 1787 and January 1790, Rhode Island's legislature rejected 11 attempts to ratify the Constitution. Nearly a dozen conventions that had been called in to ratify the constitution failed to do so, often by wide margins. In one instance, 92% of delegates voted against ratification.
In 1790, the US Senate passed a bill that would ban all trade with Rhode Island, effectively isolating the diminutive state from the Union. The Rhode Island General Assembly capitulated 11 days later and ratified the Constitution, before the proposed embargo could be acted on by the US House of Representatives.
Rhode Island's ratification included a lengthy list of caveats, including a list of 18 human rights and 21 proposed amendments that the state wished to see taken up, such as the abolition of the slave trade and a ban on poll taxes.
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The state was nicknamed Rogue Island for its opposition to the Constitution
The state of Rhode Island acquired the nickname "Rogue Island" due to its opposition to the Constitution and its refusal to participate in the ratification process. Rhode Island was the only state that did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and it repeatedly rejected calls for a convention to consider the Constitution. The state's opposition was driven by a broad base, including a desire to maintain control over its monetary policy and opposition to the slave trade. Rhode Island had pursued an inflationary policy during and after the war, printing money to pay off its debts, and feared that under a national structure, its currency would be devalued, leading to excessive war debts and negative economic and social consequences. Additionally, the state had a large Quaker population that opposed the importation of slaves allowed in the new Constitution.
Rhode Island also wanted guarantees that it would have a say in reassuming the powers of government and sought to limit federal power. The state's governor wrote to Congress in 1789, expressing their commitment to the principles of the old Confederation and their desire for further checks and securities on federal power. The Federalists, on the other hand, opposed the referendum and boycott votes, particularly in Providence and Newport, where the Constitution was defeated by significant margins.
Rhode Island's reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies earned it various deprecatory nicknames, including "Rogue Island," "the Perverse Sister," "an evil genius," and "the Quintessence of Villainy." The nickname "Rogue Island" first emerged in 1781 due to the state's opposition to commonly accepted measures in the Second Continental Congress. Rhode Island often cast the lone dissenting vote, preventing actions from being taken. This press war intensified when Rhode Island vetoed an act passed by Congress under the Articles of Confederation, which gave each state a functional veto power over amendments.
Despite the threats of a trade embargo and division within the state, Rhode Island remained steadfast in its opposition to the Constitution. It was not until May 29, 1790, more than a year after the Constitution went into effect, that Rhode Island finally ratified it by a narrow vote of 34 to 32. Even then, the state attached a lengthy list of caveats and proposed amendments, including the abolition of the slave trade, a ban on poll taxes, and the right to redeem paper money. Rhode Island's persistent defiance of the national government earned it the lasting nickname of "Rogue Island."
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Rhode Island wanted control over its monetary policy
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so more than a year after it went into effect. The state had a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies that had formed the United States of America. It was also known for casting the lone dissenting vote in many circumstances, preventing action from being taken.
Rhode Island's opposition to the Constitution was chiefly due to the paper money issued in Rhode Island pounds since 1786 by the governing Country Party. The state pursued an inflationary policy during and after the war, printing money to pay off its war debts. It feared that under a national structure, its currency would be devalued and the state would be left with excessive war debts, thus hampering its economic and social well-being.
The fear of losing control over its monetary policy was consistent with its general concern for the growth of national power. Rhode Island wanted guarantees that it would maintain control over its monetary policy and opposed any expansion of national government. This stance was so strong that an electoral revolution took place in 1786, bringing the populist Country Party into power. The new faction opposed national taxes and supported an inflationary monetary policy. In a single month, the legislature printed 100,000 pounds worth of paper currency, causing rampant inflation.
Rhode Island's stance on monetary policy was a key factor in its opposition to the Constitution. The state wanted to protect its economic interests and ensure it had the autonomy to manage its finances without interference from the federal government. This desire for control over monetary policy was a significant driver in Rhode Island's reluctance to ratify the Constitution and its insistence on maintaining state sovereignty.
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The state's large Quaker population opposed the slave trade
Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the United States Constitution in 1790. The state had a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies that had formed the United States of America. Rhode Island was also known for casting the lone dissenting vote in many circumstances, preventing action from being taken.
Rhode Island's opposition to the Constitution was due to a variety of factors, including its fear of losing control over its monetary policy and its large Quaker population's objection to the slave trade. The state had pursued an inflationary policy during and after the war, printing money to pay off its war debts. It feared that under a national structure, its currency would be devalued, and it would be burdened with excessive war debts, hindering its economic and social well-being.
The state's large Quaker population was also appalled by the allowance of the importation of slaves within the new Constitution, even if it was for a limited time. Quakers in Rhode Island and elsewhere had officially outlawed slave trading but not slaveholding. While some Quakers shared the racist vision of their non-Quaker neighbours, restricting the role of Black and Indigenous people even when they were freed from legal enslavement, others actively opposed slavery. Reformers like John Woolman and Anthony Benezet gained influence within the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) and successfully lobbied for an end to slave trading. In 1754, Woolman's "Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes" was approved for publication, and PYM sent out a call to end slave trading. This eventually led to the New England Yearly Meeting adopting a policy against the slave trade in 1760. At least one Newport, Rhode Island merchant was disciplined for carrying out slaving voyages.
Rhode Island's ratification of the Constitution included a list of caveats and proposed amendments, such as the abolition of the slave trade. The state's opposition to the slave trade, particularly among its large Quaker population, was a significant factor in its initial reluctance to ratify the Constitution.
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Federalists opposed the referendum
The Federalists' opposition to the referendum was consistent with their broader stance on the Constitution. Sensing that a majority of Rhode Islanders were against the Constitution, Antifederalists avoided convening a convention, fearing that Federalists might manipulate the outcome, as allegedly happened in Massachusetts. This dynamic reflected Rhode Island's reputation for opposing commonly accepted measures in the Second Continental Congress, earning it nicknames like "Rogue Island" and "the Perverse Sister".
The Federalists' scorn for Rhode Island's "excess of democracy" contributed to residents' perception of the Constitution as a threat. This perception was compounded by the state's desire for control over its monetary policy, concerns about direct federal taxes, and aversion to lengthy terms for members of Congress. Rhode Island's large Quaker population also found the Constitution's provisions on the slave trade offensive.
Ultimately, the Federalists' opposition to the referendum was short-lived. Despite their boycott of the vote, the Constitution was overwhelmingly defeated, with fewer than half of the state's freemen participating. However, the legislature's attempts to justify the vote were unsuccessful, and Rhode Island eventually ratified the Constitution in 1790, succumbing to pressure from the United States, which had threatened a trade embargo.
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Frequently asked questions
Rhode Island was concerned about losing control over its monetary policy and being burdened with excessive war debts. The state also wanted guarantees that it would be able to maintain its own paper currency, the Rhode Island pound. Additionally, Rhode Island's large Quaker population opposed the allowance of the importation of slaves within the new Constitution.
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on May 29, 1790, more than a year after it went into effect. The state included a list of 18 human rights and 21 amendments with its ratification, including a ban on the importation of slaves.
The Rhode Island legislature repeatedly rejected calls for a convention to consider the Constitution. Instead, on March 1, 1788, the legislature called for a statewide referendum on the Constitution, which was overwhelmingly defeated. However, after threats of a trade embargo by the United States, Rhode Island eventually ratified the Constitution in May 1790.
The populist Country Party came to power in Rhode Island in 1786 and opposed the expansion of the national government, favoring an inflationary monetary policy. They printed large amounts of paper currency, leading to rampant inflation and making Rhode Island a symbol of the issues within the Confederation.
Rhode Island's opposition to the US Constitution earned it a number of deprecatory nicknames, including \"Rogue Island\" and \"the Perverse Sister\". The state was also reviled at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 for being the only state that did not send delegates.
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