- The Rhode Island colony practiced self government, in which every individual has a voice.
King Charles II had granted charters to colonists as opposed to proprietors, which is how the colony was founded, proving it to be a charter colony. A charter is a written document from the power of a country that bestowed certain rights or privileges. - The Rhode Island Charter of 1663 proclaimed that a "flourishing civil state may stand and best be maintained with full liberty in religious concernments." - Separation of church and State- The government is forbidden to have influence on religion to the settlers - In 1651, England appointed a governor for Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, including a provincial council, ( This had to be elected by the freeholders and accepted by the King.) Colonial Rhode Island became a Charter Colony which was largely self-governed. The charter established and set the basic rules of how the government worked, but also allowed the colonists to have a great amount of freedom within those rules. The basic structure of organization of Government in Rhode Island :
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