The Wealth of Nations: A Peoples' History of Rhode Island

Dubbed "Rogue's Island" by strict and forbidding Puritans, the colony of Rhode Island was founded on unprecedented principles of religious and political freedom. Banished from Puritan Salem, founder Roger Williams settled on a piece of land that he named "Providence" in appreciation for "God's gift to a homeless people." He pledged that on this land there would always be a "shelter for persons distressed for conscience's sake." More than 300 years later, Rhode Island remains a refuge for people from all corners of the world seeking better lives, bearing new hope for the future. Author Lisa Roseman Beade tells the story of these Rhode Islanders and how each ethnic group has shaped the character and the destiny of this fascinating state. Hundreds of historical and contemporary images illustrate the immigrant experi¬ence and paint an extraordinary picture of a state that embodies "the wealth of nations." Completing this engaging history of Rhode Island is an insightful section devoted to