The exact origin of the state name is unknown. Roger Williams and a group of religious followers founded the town of Providence in what is today known as Rhode Island after their banishment from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Williams believed in the importance of liberty of conscience, which became an important principle in the founding of Rhode Island and ultimately in the founding of the United States. Rhode Island is the 13th of the original states of the Union (1790). Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States.  In spite of its size (3,140 sq. km), it is nevertheless an important industrial state.  Rhode Island lies on beautiful Narragansett Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean.  Tourists come to Rhode Island coastal resorts each summer to enjoy boating, fishing and other water sports.  The annual Newport Music Festival is held in late July and early August.

Die genaue Herkunft des Namens ist unbekannt. Roger Williams und eine Gruppe religiöser Anhänger gründeten den Ort Providence in der Region des heutigen Rhode Island, nachdem sie aus der Massachusetts Bay Colony verbannt worden waren. Williams glaubte an die Freiheit des Gewissens, und dies wurde ein wichtiger Grundsatz in der Gründung von Rhode Island und letztendlich der Vereinigten Staaten. Rhode Island war der 13. Staat, der sich der Union anschloss (1790). Rhode Island ist der kleinste Bundesstaat der Vereinigten Staaten. Trotz seiner geringen Größe (3.140 Quadratkilometer) gehört er zu den wichtigen Industriestaaten. Rhode Island liegt an der wunderschönen Bucht Narragansett Bay, einem Meeresarm des Atlantik. Im Sommer kommen viele Touristen zum Bootfahren, Angeln und zum Ausüben anderer Wassersportarten in die Seebäder Rhode Islands. Das jährliche Newport Music Festival findet Ende Juli und Anfang August statt.

GOVERNMENT
Capital: Providence
Governor: Donald Carcieri, R (to Jan. 2007)
Senators: Jack Reed, D (to Jan. 2009); Lincoln Chafee, R (to Jan. 2007)
House of Representatives: 2 districts | Search by zip code

ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 1999: 32,546; National rank: 45; Percent change since 1990: 50%; National Rank based on Growth Rate: 40
Per Capita Personal Income 2001: $30,256; National Rank: 17 (99% of the national average)
State Exports 2000 (millions of dollars): 1.269; National Rank: 45
Agriculture: Nursery stock, vegetables, dairy products, eggs.
Industry: Fashion jewelry, fabricated metal products, electric equipment, machinery, shipbuilding and boatbuilding, tourism.

Government
· State of Rhode Island: Official Homepage
· Project VoteSmart
· State and Local Government on the Internet (Piper Resources)
Statistics
· Rhode Island Profile - Fedstats
· U.S. Census Bureau: 2000 Data for the State of Rhode Island
· U.S. Census Bureau: State Data Centers: Rhode Island
Economy
· Rhode Island - Regional Accounts Data (Bureau of Economic Analysis, DoC)
Background
· 50States.com
· InfoPlease
· Wissen.de: Rhode Island Deutsch
Travel
· State of Rhode Island Tourist Office
· Map (MapQuest)
· Travel Planner - Rhode Island (Ecola.com)
For High School Students
· ClassBrain.com: State Report
· Explore the States (Library of Congress)
· Stately Knowledge (The Internet Public Library)
Teacher Resources
· ProTeacher: Lessons by State: Rhode Island
Link Lists
· GovEngine.com: Federal, State & Local Government Site
· Rhode Island (Google)
· Rhode Island (Yahoo)