Royal Charter of 1663

E33147

The Royal Charter of 1663 was a foundational document granted by King Charles II that guaranteed the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations an unusual degree of religious freedom and self-governance, shaping its distinct political and social character.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf colonial charter
constitutional document
legal document
allowed colonial assembly to make its own laws
colony to elect its own officers
appliesTo Newport
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Providence Plantations
Warwick, Rhode Island
appliesToJurisdiction Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
colonyType self-governing colony
country Kingdom of England
dateGranted 1663-07-08
definedTerritoryOf Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
durationOfEffect about 180 years
establishedBody Rhode Island General Assembly
grantedBy Charles II of England
guaranteedRight elective government
liberty of conscience
religious freedom
self-governance
historicalSignificance considered one of the most liberal colonial charters in British America
helped shape Rhode Island's distinct political and social character
influencedBy Roger Williams's ideas on religious liberty
inForceUntil 1843
inspiredBy principles of religious toleration
language English
legalForm parchment manuscript
legalPredecessorOf Rhode Island state constitution
legalStatus royal charter
limitedPowerOf English Crown in local affairs of Rhode Island
locationOfOriginal Rhode Island State Archives
monarch Charles II of England
notableFor broad local autonomy
democratic features in colonial governance
unusual degree of religious freedom for the time
providedFor elected General Assembly
elected assistants
elected deputy governor
elected governor
purpose to establish the government of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
to grant extensive self-governance to the colony
to guarantee a high degree of religious freedom
region New England
restricted establishment of a single official church in the colony
signatory Charles II of England
supersededBy Constitution of Rhode Island (1843)
yearGranted 1663

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
charterName

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