1. In 1638, Anne Hutchinson, a prominent Puritan leader, was expelled from Massachusetts and settled in present-day Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where she continued to hold religious meetings and influence local politics.

2. On March 8, 1776, the Rhode Island General Assembly declared their independence from Great Britain, becoming the first of the 13 American colonies to do so.

3. In 1842, Dorr's Rebellion erupted in Rhode Island, with a group of rebels led by Thomas W. Dorr seeking to expand voting rights to all white men regardless of property ownership. This led to a period of political crisis and violence, which was eventually resolved through a new state constitution in 1843.

4. On March 8, 1872, Rhode Island Governor Seth Padelford signed into law the first legislation in the United States granting women the right to vote in school elections.

5. The Rhode Island State House, located in Providence, was dedicated on March 8, 1904, after six years of construction. With its distinctive dome and marble exterior, the State House is a prominent landmark and houses the offices of the Governor and General Assembly.