1. In 1776, a group of men from Rhode Island signed the Declaration of Independence. This included Stephen Hopkins, who was the only person to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.

2. In 1812, the town of Pawtucket, Rhode Island became the site of the first successful water-powered cotton mill in the United States. This helped to launch the textile industry and establish Rhode Island as a major manufacturing state.

3. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln made a campaign stop in Providence, Rhode Island during his presidential campaign. He spoke at the Congregational Church and talked about the need for the United States to remain unified.

4. In 1900, a major fire broke out in downtown Providence. The fire started in a shoe store and quickly spread to other buildings. It took nearly 12 hours and the efforts of over 1,000 firefighters to extinguish the blaze. The fire destroyed over 350 buildings and caused millions of dollars in damage.

5. In 1973, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled in the case of State v. Siravo that criminal defendants have the right to a jury trial, even if they plead guilty. This ruling helped to establish important legal protections for defendants in Rhode Island and throughout the United States.