1. In 1636, Roger Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and fled to what is now Rhode Island, where he established a colony based on religious freedom and separation of church and state. This colony eventually became the state of Rhode Island.

2. On December 13, 1776, British forces under General Cornwallis captured Newport, Rhode Island. This was a major blow to the American war effort, as Newport was an important port for supplies and a base for American naval operations.

3. On December 13, 1831, the African Meeting House was dedicated in Providence, Rhode Island. This was the first church built specifically for African Americans in the United States and served as a gathering place for abolitionist meetings and other events.

4. On December 13, 1843, the first state constitution of Rhode Island was adopted. This constitution established a system of government that has remained largely unchanged to this day.

5. On December 13, 2019, Governor Gina Raimondo declared a state of emergency in Rhode Island due to a cyberattack on the state's information technology infrastructure. This attack disrupted government services and caused widespread confusion and frustration among residents. The state eventually recovered from the attack, but it served as a wake-up call for the importance of cybersecurity in the modern era.