Rhode

3986

Rhodes

 

from Charles n. a charter granting practically
complete self-government. During the Col-
onial period Rhode Island was the refuge of
all the oppressed, whether Catholics or Qua-
kers. It was one of the first Colonies to resist
English oppression. In 1787 the Anti Federal-
ists were in control of the State, and refused to
send delegates to the Constitutional Conven-
tion at Philadelphia. The Constitution was
finally submitted to the several town meet-
ings of Rhode Island, and was rejected. Later,
in 1790, when Congress threatened to cut off
all trade—Rhode Island ratified the Consti-
tution by a majority of two votes in the con-
vention.

ing America (1923); Carroll's Outline of
Government in Rhode Island (1924)-
Rhode Island State College, a co-educa-
tionai institution of higher learning at Kings-
ton, Rhode Island, under Federal and State
auspices. See Taule under the heading uni-
versity college.
Rhodes, or Rhodos, island, 12 m. distant
from the coast of Asia Minor, in the Mediter-
ranean Sea. It came under Italian sovereignty
in 1923. The interior is mountainous, reach-
ing an elevation of 4,000 ft. in Mount Attay-
aro. The climate is good, but earthquakes
are not infrequent. The valleys and coastal
belt are fertile, yielding figs, oranges, lem-

Rhinoceros.

After the Revolution, Rhode Island recov-
ered some of its maritime importance, but
this was ruined by the War of 1812. The
State then turned to manufacturing. In 1793
the first successful cotton factory had been
set up at Pawtucket. With the rapid growth
of cities, the old charter of 1663 became ob-
solete. By 1840 the condition had become un-
endurable. Though 'Dorr's Rebellion' failed, it
nevertheless brought about the framing of a
new constitution, in virtue of which repre-
sentation was reapportioned, the franchise
extended, and an independent judiciary estab-
lished. The constitution was amended a
number of times between 1854 and 1903. In
1930 Mount Hope Bridge was completed at
c cost of $4,000,000, uniting Rhode Island
proper and the original Providence Planta-
tion. In national poltics Rhode Island was
Republican from 1856 to 1912, in which
year the State supported Woodrow Wilson.
In 1916, 1920 and 1924 it was Republican,
and in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, Democratic.
Consult Adams' Rhode Island's Part in Mak~

ons, pomegranates, grapes, and vegetables.
Wine, silk, oil, and leather are the chief man-
ufactured products. Fresh fruits and vege-
tables, olive oil, hides and leather, onions and
potatoes, figs, wine, sponges, and soap are
exported. The capital is Rhodes, founded
408 b.c., on the n.e. coast. Area of the island
550 sq. m.; p.31,000. In the second millen-
nium b.c. the population of Rhodes was
possessed of the Mycensen civilization. From
early days Rhodes was a place of commercial
prosperity. In 334 b.c. they became subject
to Alexander; but after his death, in 323,
they reasserted their independence. A sub-
sequent alliance with Ptolemy of Egypt led to
the famous siege of their chief city, Rhodes, by
Demetrius Poliorcetes. In 304 he abandoned
the siege, and the Rhodians erected their
famous Colossus from the proceeds of the en-
gines of war which he left behind. During
the third century b.c. the Rhodians enjoyed
independence, and about 200 b.c. allied them-
selves with Rome. The last blow to the pros-
perity of Rhodes was an earthquake, which