Providence Plantation

American history

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July 13, 2026

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Providence Plantation was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams on land purchased from the Narragansett Indians. Williams, banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for advocating religious liberty and the separation of church and state, established Providence as a haven for those seeking religious freedom. This principle of religious tolerance became a cornerstone of the colony, attracting various dissenting groups. The settlement's charter guaranteed a "lively experiment" in religious freedom, making it a unique entity among the early American colonies. Despite challenges from neighboring colonies seeking to assert control, Providence Plantations, later Rhode Island, maintained its commitment to liberty of conscience.1234

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United States
The New England colonies
…to become one colony called Providence Plantation in Narragansett Bay.
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…to become one colony called Providence Plantation in Narragansett Bay.
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Robert Rich, 2nd earl of Warwick
…commission, which in 1644 incorporated Providence Plantations, afterward Rhode Island. In this office he attempted to secure a guarantee of religious liberty in the colonies. The city of Warwick, R.I., is named for him.
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…commission, which in 1644 incorporated Providence Plantations, afterward Rhode Island. In this office he attempted to secure a guarantee of religious liberty in the colonies. The city of Warwick, R.I., is named for him.
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