 The other two colonies (Connecticut and Rhode Island) had corporate charters; Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull was governor before and during the war period, while in Rhode Island, Governor Joseph Wanton was removed from office in 1775 for failing to support the rebel war effort.Before achieving statehood, many of the fifty states were territories.Administered by the federal government, they had governors who were appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate rather than elected by the resident population.