2016 -- H 8154

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LC005914

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING RHODE ISLAND INDEPENDENCE DAY ON MAY 4, 2016

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Mattiello, DeSimone, Blazejewski, and

     Date Introduced: May 04, 2016

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island colonists were considered to be "the most radical religious

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dissenters from the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony," and as our new state and indeed

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our new nation, independent of the British crown, began to take form, great leaders emerged to

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lead the way; and

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     WHEREAS, Relations between Rhode Island colonists and their British rulers

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deteriorated rapidly after the 1772 incident in which Rhode Island colonists, angered by

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continued British attempts to impose taxes in ways that the colonists perceived to be unfair,

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boarded and burned the British customs ship, Gaspee, which had run aground near Warwick,

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while patrolling the coastal waters in search of local smugglers; and

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     WHEREAS, One of our state's most renowned colonial leaders was Nathanael Greene.

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He was born on Forge Farm at Potowomut in the township of Warwick, Rhode Island, but later

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moved to Coventry to take charge of the family-owned forge. He began his military career as a

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militia private, the lowest rank possible, but was eventually elevated to commander of the

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colonial militia. He led troops in the Continental Army at Boston and New York, then fought in

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battles at Trenton, Brandywine, and Germantown; and

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     WHEREAS, Nathanael Greene played an additional role in shaping our state. He served

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as a deputy of the Rhode Island Assembly. Thomas Jefferson once wrote that Nathanael Greene

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was "second to no one in enterprise, in resource, in sound judgment, promptitude of decision, and

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every other military talent"; and

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     WHEREAS, Our state's founders formed, protected, and represented the first colony to

 

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renounce allegiance to King George III; and

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     WHEREAS, The celebration of Rhode Island Independence Day on May 4th is a "tribute

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to the memory of the members of our General Assembly, who, on the fourth day of May, 1776, in

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the State House at Providence, passed an act renouncing allegiance of the colony to the British

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crown and by the provisions of that act declared Rhode Island sovereign and independent, the

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first official act of its kind by any of the thirteen American colonies"; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby joins citizens from across our Ocean State in celebrating Rhode

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Island Independence Day on May 4th of 2016; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Nathanael Greene Homestead Association,

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Inc.

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