"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations has a proud history of being the first colony to secede from British rule and being the last of the original thirteen colonies to join the union. It is in this great tradition that the state of Rhode Island will sever its ties with Washington and focus on strengthening its relationship with other northeastern states.