a) Rhode Island

Rhode Island notably chose to boycott the 1787 Constitutional Convention, reflecting its strong opposition to a powerful central government. As a small state, Rhode Island feared losing autonomy and being overpowered by larger states. This boycott highlighted the deep divisions and differing perspectives among the states on the formation of the federal government. Rhode Island’s absence from the Convention underscores the challenges faced in drafting a constitution that balanced the diverse interests of all states. Ultimately, Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution, doing so only under the threat of being treated as a foreign entity.