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Politics 18th Century North America

Rhode Island First to Renounce British Allegiance

By early 1776, tensions between the thirteen American colonies and Britain had escalated into open conflict following the battles at Lexington and Concord the previous year. Rhode Island, founded on principles of religious liberty and self-governance by Roger Williams, had long chafed under royal authority. On May 4, 1776, the colony's General Assembly passed an act repealing all oaths of allegiance to King George III and directing that official documents and commissions omit references to the Crown, substituting the authority of the colony's governor and company instead. This made Rhode Island the first North American colony to formally sever legal ties with Britain, two months before the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The measure reflected growing colonial resolve...

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Politics 18th Century North America

Virginia Convention Calls for Colonial Independence

By spring 1776, the American colonies faced irreconcilable conflict with Britain after the rejection of the Olive Branch Petition and increasing military actions. Virginia's Fifth Revolutionary Convention met in Williamsburg amid debates over reconciliation versus separation. On May 15, 1776, delegates unanimously passed resolutions instructing Virginia's Continental Congress delegates to propose declaring the United Colonies free and independent states, absolved from allegiance to the British Crown. They also authorized a committee to draft a declaration of rights and state constitution. This action positioned Virginia at the forefront of the push for independence.

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Politics 18th Century North America

Lee Resolution Proposes American Independence

By spring 1776, tensions between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain had escalated into open conflict following the battles at Lexington and Concord. Delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia debated the future relationship with the Crown amid growing calls for separation. On June 7, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution declaring that the colonies ought to be free and independent states, with all political connection to Britain dissolved. John Adams of Massachusetts seconded the motion, which sparked intense discussion over the next weeks. The resolution passed on July 2 and directly paved the way for the Declaration of Independence adopted days later.

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Politics 18th Century North America

Continental Congress Appoints Committee of Five

By mid-1776 the American colonies had been at war with Britain for over a year, and sentiment for full independence had grown strong among delegates meeting in Philadelphia. On June 11 the Second Continental Congress formally created a five-member drafting committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. The group was tasked with producing a document that would justify separation from Great Britain and articulate the principles of self-government. Jefferson, the youngest member, took primary responsibility for composing the initial draft over the following weeks. The committee presented its work to Congress on June 28, leading directly to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.

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Politics 18th Century North America

Continental Congress Votes for Independence

In the summer of 1776, delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia debated separation from Britain amid escalating conflict following Lexington and Concord. On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution declaring the colonies free and independent states. After weeks of discussion and revisions to a draft declaration, the Congress formally adopted Lee’s resolution on July 2 by a vote of twelve colonies in favor, with New York abstaining. The decision came after Caesar Rodney’s dramatic ride to break a Delaware deadlock. This vote established the legal basis for the United States, though the formal Declaration of Independence was approved two days later.

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Politics 18th Century North America

Continental Congress Adopts Declaration of Independence

By mid-1776, the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia had moved from petitioning King George III to debating full separation after months of armed conflict. On July 2, delegates passed Richard Henry Lee's resolution declaring the colonies free and independent states. Thomas Jefferson's committee draft was revised over two days, removing passages on the slave trade and softening language on the British people. On July 4 the Congress unanimously approved the final text, which listed 27 grievances and asserted natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Printed copies circulated rapidly, and the document was publicly read in Philadelphia on July 8. The act transformed a colonial rebellion into a formal assertion of sovereignty that inspired later independence movements.

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Politics 18th Century North America

Declaration of Independence Read Publicly in Philadelphia

By the summer of 1776 the Second Continental Congress had broken with Britain and adopted a formal statement of independence on July 4. With British forces threatening the colonies, leaders recognized the need to rally popular support beyond the halls of Congress. On July 8, Colonel John Nixon stood before a crowd gathered at the State House yard in Philadelphia and read the Declaration aloud for the first time. Church bells, including the one later known as the Liberty Bell, rang out across the city. The public reading transformed an internal congressional document into a widely shared call to arms that spread rapidly through the colonies via newspapers and broadsides.

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Politics 18th Century North America

Delegates Sign U.S. Declaration of Independence

In the summer of 1776, the Thirteen Colonies had been engaged in open rebellion against British rule for over a year following the battles at Lexington and Concord. The Second Continental Congress had adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, but the formal parchment copy required signatures from the delegates. On August 2, most of the 56 signers, including prominent figures like John Hancock and Thomas Jefferson, affixed their names in Philadelphia. Additional signatures were added later by those absent that day. The act publicly committed the colonies to the cause of separation and justified it with a list of grievances against King George III. This step transformed a political protest into a formal assertion of sovereignty.

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Technology 18th Century North America

Turtle Submarine Attempts First Naval Attack

As the American Revolutionary War intensified around New York, inventor David Bushnell developed the Turtle, a one-man wooden submersible designed to attach explosive charges to British ships. On September 7, 1776, Sergeant Ezra Lee piloted the craft into New York Harbor under cover of night, targeting Admiral Richard Howe's flagship HMS Eagle. Lee maneuvered beneath the vessel but struggled to drill through its copper-sheathed hull due to the tool's limitations and strong currents. The attempt failed when the bomb detached prematurely and exploded harmlessly nearby, alerting the British without damaging their ship. Though unsuccessful, the mission marked the first combat use of a submarine in naval warfare.

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Politics 18th Century North America

Continental Congress Names Nation United States

By mid-1776, the American colonies had declared independence from Britain on July 4, yet still referred to themselves collectively as the United Colonies in official documents. The Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, sought a formal national identity as war with Britain intensified and foreign alliances became essential. On September 9, delegates resolved that the new nation would henceforth be called the United States of America, replacing earlier terminology. This change appeared in subsequent resolutions and correspondence. The decision reflected growing unity among the thirteen colonies and clarified their status as a sovereign entity to European powers.

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Military 18th Century North America

British Forces Land at Kip's Bay During Revolution

In the summer of 1776, General George Washington's Continental Army defended New York City after the British evacuation from Boston earlier that year. British General William Howe sought to seize the strategic port and isolate Patriot forces. On September 15, a massive British flotilla of warships bombarded American positions at Kip's Bay on Manhattan's East River shore, where inexperienced Connecticut militia guarded the area. The intense naval cannonade caused the militia to flee in panic, allowing 4,000 British and Hessian troops to land unopposed in flatboats. Washington attempted to rally his men but narrowly escaped capture as British forces advanced inland, nearly cutting off American retreat routes from southern Manhattan. The successful landing enabled the British to occupy New York...

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Politics 18th Century North America

Thomas Paine Publishes The American Crisis

As George Washington's Continental Army retreated through New Jersey in the bleak winter of 1776, facing low morale and expiring enlistments after defeats in New York, revolutionary writer Thomas Paine responded with urgent prose. On December 19, the first pamphlet in his series The American Crisis appeared in The Pennsylvania Journal, opening with the famous line about times that try men's souls. Paine, using the pseudonym Common Sense, urged perseverance against British forces and tyranny. The essay was read aloud to troops and helped rally support during a critical low point in the Revolutionary War. Its immediate distribution bolstered Patriot resolve ahead of the surprise victory at Trenton.

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Military 18th Century North America

Washington Secures Key Victory at Battle of Trenton

In the winter of 1776, the American Revolutionary War appeared on the brink of collapse as General George Washington's Continental Army faced dwindling numbers, low morale, and harsh conditions after a series of defeats. Washington devised a daring plan to cross the ice-choked Delaware River on Christmas night despite a fierce storm. His forces surprised the Hessian garrison at Trenton, New Jersey, early on December 26, capturing nearly 900 prisoners with minimal American losses. The swift engagement boosted Patriot spirits and encouraged many soldiers to reenlist, providing crucial momentum for the independence cause. This outcome shifted the strategic momentum in the northern theater of the war.

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Politics 18th Century North America

Vermont Declares Independence

During the American Revolutionary War, settlers in the New Hampshire Grants region faced conflicting land claims from New York and New Hampshire while resisting British authority. On January 15, 1777, delegates from 28 towns gathered in Westminster and formally declared the territory independent, initially naming it the Republic of New Connecticut. The declaration rejected both British colonial rule and New York's jurisdiction, establishing a provisional government under leaders including Thomas Chittenden and drawing on the Green Mountain Boys militia for defense. This act created one of the few independent republics in North America outside the Thirteen Colonies. Vermont maintained sovereignty for 14 years before joining the United States in 1791 as the 14th state.

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Law 18th Century North America

Georgia Adopts Constitution Abolishing Primogeniture

During the American Revolutionary War, Georgia's constitutional convention completed work on the state's first constitution on February 5, 1777. The document, drafted amid efforts to establish independent governance, included Article LI that explicitly abolished entail and primogeniture. Under the new rules, estates of those dying intestate would be divided equally among children, with provisions for widows, rejecting British inheritance practices that favored eldest sons. This made Georgia the first U.S. state to enact such reforms. The changes reflected colonial experiences where younger sons sought opportunities in America free from European restrictions.

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Politics 18th Century North America

New York Adopts First State Constitution

During the American Revolutionary War, British forces had captured New York City and much of the surrounding area by late 1776, forcing colonial leaders to operate from safer upstate locations. In this context of ongoing conflict and uncertainty about reconciliation with Britain, the Convention of Representatives of the State of New York convened in Kingston. On April 20, 1777, the convention formally adopted the state's first constitution after months of drafting. Primarily authored by figures including John Jay, Robert R. Livingston, and Gouverneur Morris, the document established separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It called for a governor, a 24-member senate, and a larger assembly, while limiting voting to male property owners and guaranteeing the right to trial by jury.

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Military 18th Century North America

Marquis de Lafayette Lands in South Carolina to Aid Revolution

By 1777 the American colonies were in the midst of their war for independence from Britain, seeking foreign support amid early military setbacks. The 19-year-old French nobleman Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, had defied his government and family to sail across the Atlantic with his own funds and volunteers. He arrived near Charleston, South Carolina, on June 13 after a difficult voyage. Lafayette presented himself to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, where he was commissioned as a major general despite his youth and limited experience. He quickly formed a close bond with George Washington and began training troops.

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Culture 18th Century North America

Congress Adopts Stars and Stripes Flag

With the Revolutionary War underway, the Continental Congress sought a distinct national symbol separate from British colors. On June 14, 1777, it passed the Flag Resolution declaring that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars in a blue field representing a new constellation. The design unified the colonies visually and boosted morale among troops and civilians. The resolution established the enduring basic pattern of the American flag.

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Politics 18th Century North America

Articles of Confederation Adopted by Congress

In the midst of the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress had been operating without a formal framework since declaring independence in 1776. Meeting in York, Pennsylvania, after British forces occupied Philadelphia, delegates spent over a year debating the structure of a national government. On November 15, 1777, they finally approved the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, establishing the first constitution for the united colonies. The document created a weak central government with limited powers over taxation and commerce while preserving strong state sovereignty. Ratification by all thirteen states took until 1781, but the adoption marked a critical step toward formal union. This framework guided the nation through the war and early years of independence until replaced by the...

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Politics 18th Century North America

U.S. Congress Submits Articles of Confederation

During the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress struggled to create a framework for uniting the thirteen colonies against British rule while respecting state sovereignty. After over a year of debate, Congress approved the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777, and formally submitted them to the states two days later on November 17. The document established a weak central government with powers limited to war, diplomacy, and postal service, leaving most authority with the states. Ratification proved contentious, delayed especially by disputes over western land claims until Maryland's approval in 1781. This first national constitution guided the young United States through the final years of the war and the immediate postwar period.

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Politics 18th Century North America

France Formally Recognizes United States Independence

During the American Revolutionary War, American diplomats including Benjamin Franklin sought European allies against Britain after the Continental Army’s victory at Saratoga in October 1777. News of the triumph reached Paris in early December, strengthening the American position. On December 17, 1777, French Foreign Minister Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes, with King Louis XVI’s approval, officially acknowledged the United States as an independent nation. This marked the first major European power to grant such recognition. The decision shifted the conflict into an international war and paved the way for formal treaties of alliance and commerce signed in February 1778.

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Politics 18th Century North America

John Adams Departs for France to Negotiate Alliance

During the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress sought foreign alliances to counter British power after early military setbacks. John Adams had already contributed to independence efforts as a delegate and drafter of key documents. On February 13, 1778, Adams and his young son John Quincy boarded the frigate Boston in Marblehead Harbor, Massachusetts, bound for France to replace Silas Deane and strengthen the diplomatic commission. Their voyage succeeded in formalizing the Franco-American alliance that provided crucial military and financial support.

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Military 18th Century North America

British Evacuate Philadelphia After Nine-Month Occupation

In September 1777, British forces under General William Howe captured Philadelphia, the seat of the Continental Congress, following victories at Brandywine and Germantown during the American Revolutionary War. The occupation strained British supply lines and failed to break colonial resistance, as George Washington's army remained intact at Valley Forge. France's entry into the war in early 1778 shifted British priorities toward defending New York against potential Franco-American attacks. On June 18, 1778, General Sir Henry Clinton led approximately 15,000 British and Hessian troops out of the city by land toward New York, shipping some supplies and Loyalists by sea. Continental forces under Benedict Arnold reentered the capital the following day without resistance.

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Culture 18th Century North America

Liberty Bell Returns to Philadelphia

As British forces occupied Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War, Patriot leaders feared the iconic State House bell would be seized and melted for ammunition. In September 1777, the bell was secretly removed and hidden in Allentown at Zion’s Reformed Church. After the British evacuation of the city in June 1778, a wagon procession escorted the bell back to Philadelphia on June 27. Crowds cheered its arrival, though the steeple remained too damaged for immediate re-hanging. The bell resumed its role calling citizens and lawmakers, later becoming a potent symbol of American liberty and independence. Its journey preserved one of the young nation’s most enduring icons through the war’s darkest period.

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