Rhode Island Ratifies the Constitution

On this day in 1790 Rhode Island ratifies the Constitution.

Of note is that it was the first to declare independence from Great Britain, a couple of months before the rest of the colonies on May 4th, which is observed here… Feisty crowd, Rhode Islanders…

They resisted ratifying the Constitution for numerous reasons, apparently some noble. They finally voted ratification on this day insisting on the Bill of Rights as part of the document. And even then the vote to ratify at a convention called for the purpose passed by a vote of thirty-four in favor and thirty-two against, apparently the narrowest vote of any of the former colonies…

Feisty crowd…