Rhode Island's Colonial Economy: Agriculture, Fishing, and Shipbuilding

Early Economic Foundations

Rhode Island's colonial economy was built on:

Agriculture

Corn, wheat, rye, oats; livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep). Exported to other colonies and England.

Fishing

Cod, mackerel, herring abundant. Sold locally and inter-colonially.

Shipbuilding

Major shipbuilding center. Built vessels for Revolution, other colonies, and foreign nations.

Trade

Merchants imported sugar, molasses, rum; exported fish, lumber, textiles.

This diversified economy brought prosperity and supported the American Revolution with supplies and troops.