Patriot Poll 05/04/2026

Question:
On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island became the first colony to renounce allegiance to the British Crown. Rhode Island was also the last state to ratify the Constitution in 1790 — only doing so under threat of trade sanctions. What was Rhode Island’s primary objection to the Constitution that caused it to hold out for so long?

A) It gave too much power to large states at the expense of small ones
B) It lacked a Bill of Rights protecting individual liberties
C) It allowed the federal government to assume state war debts
D)  It did not immediately abolish the slave trade

Answer (below):

✅ Correct Answer: B. It lacked a Bill of Rights protecting individual liberties