Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States, and interestingly it was actually formed when two different territories merged! Rhode Island was among the first thirteen colonies and it is a state with a very interesting political history. Part of what is now Rhode Island was once the territory known as Providence Plantations. This is the area now in and around the city of Providence.
The founder of Providence Plantations was Roger Williams, who was studied theology but was quite progressive for his time. He was anti-slavery and worked with the abolitionists to eliminate slavery. He also fought for the rights of Native Americans. Obviously, this did not make him popular among the colonists and they eventually forced him to leave Massachusetts and that is when he moved toward the Delaware River Valley and established Providence Plantations.
He chose this name because he felt that those who lived there should be free of tyranny and live in providence, and freedom. Plantation was an obvious choice as most of the state land was used for farming for many years.
Something most people do not know, and never learn in school, is that the official name of the state is not Rhode Island! It is Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations. It is never referred to this way, however. Rhode Island is often called the Ocean State because much of it's recorded size is actually made up of land that is underwater. It also boasts numerous and beautiful beaches along the Atlantic Ocean.