AP – PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The country’s smallest state has the longest official name: “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.”
A push to drop “Providence Plantations” from that name advanced farther than ever on Thursday when House lawmakers voted 70-3 to let residents decide whether their home should simply be called the “State of Rhode Island.” It’s an encouraging sign for those who believe the formal name conjures up images of slavery, while opponents argue it’s an unnecessary rewriting of history that ignores Rhode Island’s tradition of religious liberty and tolerance.
In 1663 King Charles II granted a royal charter joining all the settlements of Rhode Island into a single colony called “The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.” –Rhode Island used that royal charter as its governing document until 1843.
Some people argue that the word “plantations” conjures up images of slavery and therefore should be dropped from the state name.
Others argue that the word applies to all farms, not just those run by slave holders, and represents a major part of the state’s history and should remain unchanged.
The reality is that the majority of the state’s residents will undoubtedly vote to change the name. Not because of moral or historical issues, but because it’s just too damn long.
