[On May 6, 1776, Rhode Island became the first colony to formally declare its independence from England. That’s one of many ways this smallest state has made a big impact, so for the 250th anniversary of that occasion this week I’ll AmericanStudy a handful of Little Rhody histories, leading up to a weekend reading list for folks who want to learn more!]
On three telling phrases and moments in the colony’s 1776 Act of Renunciation.
- Repeal: Compared to the affirmative idea of and case for independence with which the national Declaration of Independence would begin two months later, Rhode Island’s declaration opens instead with an act of negation: “repealing an Act entitled ‘An Act for the effectual securing to his Majesty the Allegiance of His Subjects in this His Colony and Dominion of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” (for more on that full name seem Monday’s post). That’s far from a semantic difference, and reflects a Revolutionary context of which it’s easy to lose sight: that independence was first (not necessarily foremost, but certainly first) a procedural matter, at least for the individual colonies and their legislative bodies like Rhode Island’s General Assembly who passed this Act.
- Dignity: As you can see at this transcription of the Act, one of its most interesting details is that the original second paragraph was crossed out and replaced with a new paragraph. The two have some significant overlap, but there are important differences, including that the original phrase “Whereas George the Third King of Great Britain entirely departing from the Duties and Character of a good King” was changed to read “Whereas George the Third King of Britain forgetting his dignity.” The change is partly a softening of language to be sure, and reflects a moment when the colonists were perhaps not quite ready to levy the barrage of charges at George that the national Declaration would famously include. But I would argue in some ways “forgetting his dignity” is an even more overarching phrase, as it suggests a leader who has abandoned even the baselines for communication and respect.
- True and faithful unto this said Colony: The Act doesn’t just open with practicality (in its repeal of the prior Act), but also and importantly mostly focuses on practical concerns throughout, including where and how courts will exercise their authority and what oaths of office will be required for those in the colonial government. On the latter note, the Act requires of new “General Officers” that they swear not to be loyal to the King, but to “solemnly engage to be true and faithful unto this said Colony.” It’s another potentially under-appreciated fact of the early Revolution that it required such explicit shifts of existing and new government officials, even though in some ways they would continue to serve in the same legislative bodies, government agencies, and so on. Just one more reason to read and remember Little Rhody’s very big 1776 document.
Next Rhody remembrance tomorrow,
Ben
PS. What do you think? Rhode Island histories or stories you’d share?
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