Rhode Island's Historic Firsts: A Remarkable List

Rhode Island claims these American firsts:

• First Baptist church (1638)
• First law guaranteeing religious freedom (1647)
• First permanent Jewish settlement (1658)
• First naval battle of Revolutionary War (1772 – Gaspee Affair)
• First colony to ban slave trade (1774)
• First to declare independence from Britain (May 4, 1776)
• First to ratify U.S. Constitution (May 29, 1790 – last of original 13, but first to call ratifying convention)
• First U.S. Congress convened in Providence (1790–91)