1. In 1676, King Philip’s War officially began with an attack on the colonial settlement of Swansea. This conflict between Native Americans and English colonists would last for three years and spread throughout Rhode Island and neighboring states.

2. On May 2, 1775, Rhode Island’s General Assembly declared its intent to form a military regiment to support the revolutionary cause. Rhode Island would go on to play a significant role in the American Revolution, contributing troops and supplies to the Continental Army.

3. In 1840, Rhode Island became the first state in the country to establish its own state police force. The Rhode Island State Police would go on to become one of the most respected and effective law enforcement agencies in the nation.

4. May 2, 1919 marks the day that Rhode Island officially ratified the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Rhode Island was the 34th state to ratify the amendment, helping to secure its place in the US Constitution.

5. On May 2, 1970, students at Brown University in Providence occupied the administration building in protest of the university’s involvement in the Vietnam War. This marked the beginning of a nationwide wave of student activism that would continue throughout the decade.