Rhode Island became the first colony to officially renounce the British Crown in 1776
Rhode Island made a daring leap toward independence in 1776 by becoming the first American colony to formally sever its legal ties with King George III and the British Crown.
On May 4, 1776, the General Assembly of Rhode Island passed an act that officially deleted the King's name from all legal documents and court proceedings. This bold move occurred a full two months before the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. By doing so, the tiny colony effectively declared itself a sovereign state.
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