R 211

2016 -- H 8154 Enacted 05/04/2016

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

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

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

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

lead the way; and

WHEREAS, Relations between Rhode Island colonists and their British rulers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

battles at Trenton, Brandywine, and Germantown; and

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

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

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

every other military talent"; and

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

renounce allegiance to King George III; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inc.

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LC005914

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