RHODE ISLAND: Freedom, the Sea, and the Smallest State (Hidden USA Book 14)

Discover Rhode Island Beyond the Guidebooks The smallest state. A remarkable history. From religious freedom and colonial ports to revolution, industry, and the modern Ocean State. Rhode Island may be America's smallest state, but its influence on American history is anything but small. Rhode Island: Freedom, the Sea, and the Smallest State is far more than a travel guide. It is a comprehensive portrait of the Ocean State, bringing together its geography, Indigenous heritage, colonial history, maritime culture, architecture, industry, food, and everyday life. From the Algonquian world and the founding of Providence to the maritime golden age, the American Revolution, industrialization, abolition, immigration, and modern Rhode Island, this book explores the forces that shaped this unique corner of New England. Inside You'll Discover: Rhode Island's coastline, islands, Narragansett Bay, forests, wetlands, and natural landscapes The Indigenous peoples who lived here long before European settlement Roger Williams, Providence, and the remarkable history of religious liberty Colonial Rhode Island and the growth of Providence and Newport The maritime trade that transformed Newport into an important Atlantic port The Gaspee Affair and Rhode Island's revolutionary spirit Historic churches, meetinghouses, colonial homes, and New England architecture Textile mills, manufacturing, railroads, and Rhode Island's industrial transformation Abolition, reform, the Dorr Rebellion, and the struggle for political rights The Civil War, immigration, urban growth, and twentieth-century transformation Rhode Island's modern economy, communities, universities, tourism, and maritime traditions Local food and New England traditions, from clam cakes and chowder to quahogs, seafood, johnnycakes, and coffee milk Perfect For Readers Who Love: • Rhode Island history • New England history • Colonial America • American Revolution history • Roger Williams and religious freedom • Maritime history • Newport and Providence • American architecture • Industrial history • Immigration history • Coastal New England • American food and regional traditions Unlike ordinary travel guides that simply tell you where to go, this book explains why Rhode Island became one of the most distinctive states in American history. Part of the Hidden USA series, this volume reveals a Rhode Island where Indigenous traditions, colonial villages, sailing ships, textile mills, immigrant neighborhoods, historic cities, and Atlantic culture come together. If you enjoy books about American history, colonial New England, the American Revolution, maritime heritage, religious freedom, historic towns, coastal landscapes, and hidden destinations, this book belongs in your collection. Turn the page and discover Rhode Island—the smallest state with a remarkably large story.