Simone Lawson
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so in 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 formed the United States. Rhode Island's opposition was partly due to its desire to maintain control over its monetary policy, which included printing money to pay off its war debts. The state also wished to limit federal power and maintain its fiercely individualistic and independent nature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opposition to the Constitution | Fear of losing control over monetary policy, opposition to the slave trade, aversion to federal taxes, and desire to maintain state sovereignty |
| Nicknames | "Rogue Island", "The Perverse Sister", "An evil genius", "Quintessence of Villainy" |
| Ratification Process | Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution on May 29, 1790, with a close vote of 34-32 |
| Compromise | Rhode Island included a list of 18 human rights and 21 amendments with its ratification, requesting limits on federal power and a ban on poll taxes, the draft, and the importation of slaves |
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What You'll Learn
Rhode Island's monetary policy
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so in 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, earning it the nickname "Rogue Island". Rhode Island was also known for its individualistic and independent-minded character, a trait shared with North Carolina, another state that initially resisted the Constitution.
Rhode Island's opposition to the Constitution was driven by several factors, including a desire to maintain control over its monetary policy. The state had pursued an inflationary policy during and after the war, printing money to pay off its war debts. This led to rampant inflation, making Rhode Island a symbol of the problems facing the Confederation. As a result, the state 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.
Rhode Island also wanted guarantees of limited federal power and sought to protect its monetary policy autonomy. Additionally, the state's large Quaker population opposed the allowance of the slave trade in the new Constitution. They also feared direct federal taxes and objected to the lengthy terms for members of Congress.
Rhode Island's ratification of the Constitution included a list of caveats and proposed amendments, reflecting its desire to limit federal power and protect its monetary policy independence. The state's resistance to the Constitution and its focus on monetary policy demonstrate its commitment to maintaining control over its economic affairs and safeguarding the interests of its citizens.
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Opposition to slavery
Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 states to ratify the United States Constitution in 1790, after the US threatened a trade embargo against the state for non-compliance. The state had a broad base of opposition to the Constitution, with no single group or ideology motivating this stance. Rhode Island's large Quaker population, however, was appalled by the allowance of the importation of slaves within the new Constitution, even if for a limited time.
Rhode Island's early history with slavery was complicated. In 1652, the colonial cities of Providence and Warwick passed statutes limiting the enslavement of Africans and Native Americans, respectively. However, these statutes were not enforced, and in 1703, the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations supplanted them with new laws codifying the enslavement of Africans and Native Americans. By 1750, the colony had the highest percentage of enslaved people in New England, and it was a dominant player in the global slave trade, with Newport as the major slave-trading port in North America.
In 1774, Stephen Hopkins, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and slave owner, introduced a bill in the Rhode Island Assembly that prohibited the importation of slaves into the colony, becoming one of the first anti-slavery laws in the United States. In 1784, the Rhode Island Legislature passed a compromise measure for the gradual emancipation of slaves within the state. By 1840, only five former Africans were reported as enslaved in Rhode Island, and in 1843, the state's Constitution emancipated all slaves.
During the ratification debates, Rhode Island included the abolition of the slave trade in its list of proposed amendments to the Constitution. The state's opposition to the Constitution was also due to its fear of losing control over its monetary policy, direct federal taxes, and aversion to the lengthy terms for members of Congress.
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State sovereignty
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the US Constitution, only doing so in 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, earning it the nickname "Rogue Island".
Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams, a radical separatist who had fled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Williams established freedom of religion for all, even the hated Quakers, and made Rhode Island the most liberal of the colonies. The state was fiercely individualistic and staunchly independent-minded, and its inhabitants resented outside interference. This attitude manifested in its opposition to the Constitution, which it saw as a threat to its sovereignty. Rhode Island wanted guarantees that it would maintain control over its monetary policy and that its currency would not be devalued by a national structure. The state pursued an inflationary policy, printing money to pay off its war debts, and feared that under a national government, it would be burdened with excessive war debts, thus hindering its economic and social well-being.
Rhode Island also opposed the Constitution due to its provisions on the slave trade, which offended the state's large Quaker population. Additionally, the state wanted to limit federal power and requested further checks and securities before adopting the Constitution. They were also concerned about direct federal taxes and the lengthy terms for members of Congress.
Rhode Island's ratification of the Constitution included a lengthy list of caveats and proposed amendments, reflecting the state's desire to protect its sovereignty and maintain a level of independence within the union of states.
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Individualism and independence
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the US Constitution, only doing so in 1790, more than a year after it went into effect. This was due to the state's individualistic and independent nature.
Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams, a radical separatist who had been forced to flee from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Williams established freedom of religion for all, even the hated Quakers, making Rhode Island the most liberal of the colonies. The state was also the first colony to renounce allegiance to King George III, two months before the Declaration of Independence was adopted. This history of independence and separation from colonial oppressors set the tone for Rhode Island's opposition to the Constitution.
The state's opposition was also due to its monetary policy. Rhode Island 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, thus hindering its economic and social well-being. This was a consistent theme in Rhode Island's politics, as the state also opposed direct federal taxes and the lengthy terms for members of Congress.
Rhode Island's individualism and independence were also reflected in its veto of an act of the Congress of the Confederation, earning it nicknames like "Rogue Island" and "the Perverse Sister". The state valued its sovereignty and was known for casting the lone dissenting vote, preventing action from being taken. This was demonstrated in its refusal to participate in the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the only state to do so.
Rhode Island's ratification of the Constitution was a controversial process, as the state attached a list of human rights and amendments, including a request to ban the importation of slaves. The state's large Quaker population was appalled by the allowance of the slave trade within the new Constitution. Rhode Island's individualism and independence, while causing tension with other states, ultimately contributed to its unique perspective and influence on the nation's politics.
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Federalist opposition
The Federalists opposed the referendum in Rhode Island on several grounds. Firstly, they believed that it violated the express wishes of the Federal Convention and Congress. The Federalists also argued that a referendum was an inappropriate method for deciding a constitutional issue and that it did not provide a forum for proposing amendments. They further contended that a referendum would not allow for a full-scale discussion of the Constitution and that it was "'anti-democratic' due to the potential for prominent town leaders to intimidate freemen into voting against the Constitution.
The Federalists' opposition to the referendum in Rhode Island was consistent with their broader concerns about the state's resistance to the Constitution. Rhode Island had gained a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies and for frequently using its veto power under the Articles of Confederation. This stance earned the state nicknames like "'Rogue Island' and "'the Perverse Sister'". The Federalists' scorn for Rhode Island's "excess of democracy" contributed to a perception among the state's residents that the Constitution posed a threat to their interests.
The Federalists' opposition to the referendum in Rhode Island was also influenced by the state's history of opposing the expansion of national government and its support for an inflationary monetary policy. Rhode Island's printing of paper currency and the resulting inflation had made it a symbol of the problems facing the Confederation in the eyes of many Americans. The Federalists, who advocated for a stronger national government, clashed with Rhode Island's staunchly independent attitude and its defence of state sovereignty.
Additionally, the Federalists recognised that Rhode Island's opposition to the Constitution was driven by specific concerns, such as the fear of losing control over its monetary policy and the potential impact on its economic and social well-being. The state's large Quaker population also objected to the provisions on the slave trade within the new Constitution. However, the Federalists maintained their position that the referendum was not the appropriate mechanism for addressing these issues and that a convention was ultimately necessary for Rhode Island to re-enter the Union.
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Frequently asked questions
Rhode Island was a fiercely individualistic and independent-minded state that resented outside interference. It was also concerned about losing control over its monetary policy and being burdened with excessive war debts.
Rhode Island acquired a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies, earning nicknames like \"Rogue Island\" and \"the Perverse Sister\". It vetoed an act of Congress, which gave it a functional veto power over amendments.
Rhode Island was threatened with a trade embargo and isolation from the Union. It eventually ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790, becoming the last state to do so.
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