History of America 1727

George I of England dies; George II reigns. London June 12, 1727.
Following the news that King George I had died in Hanover at the age of 67, his son, George Augustus, has been proclaimed King. He will reign as George II.
There is little evidence of public grief at the passing of the king. Boorish and unable to speak a word of English, he was more interested in the affairs of his native Hanover, of which he was Elector. The new king was born in Herenhausen, Hanover on October 30th 1683. He is married to Catherine of Anspach and they have three sons and five daughters.

Oglethorpe arrives with 130 Settlers. Charleston S.Carolina Jan 13, 1733.
Thirty-five families arrived in Charleston harbour today to found a unique colony in America. Led by James Edward Oglethorpe, a member of Parliament, the colonists include many people released from debtors prison. He plans to call the colony Georgia in honour of King George II.
Leading citizens in England and many churches collected money to help found the colony. There are 30 settlers. Besides the English there are German and Swiss Protestants fleeing persecution. They will select a site on the Savannah River south of Charleston.

Slaves Revolt; many die.
Charleston S. Carolina Sept. 9, 1739
A series of slave revolts has jolted South Carolina, leaving dozens dead at Charleston, Stono River and Berkley County. Local people charged that the rebellion was incited by Spanish missionaries who created among the slaves a false expectation of delivery from bondage.
The Charleston insurrection began when a group of Negroes set out for St.Augustine and freedom, killing all whites they met on the way. They were quickly surrounded and the entire group was massacred with a death toll of 21 whites and 44 Negroes.

At 37, versatile Franklin retires in favour of scientific pursuits. Philadelphia, Jan 1743
Benjamin Franklin has sold his newspaper . The Pennsylvania Gazette; Poor Richard’s Almanac, the most popular such compilation in the colonies, and the rest of his lucrative printing enterprises to his partner, David Hall, who joined him a year ago. Franklin will continue his affiliation with the business, which will bear the name Franklin & Hall.
Although he is currently busy with plans to establish Pennsylvania’s firts college, Franklin intends to spend the bulk of his time pursuing scientific interests, particularly in the study of electricity. Franklin came to Philadelphia 20 years ago. Although his wit, intellect and popularity obviously qualifies him to hold high public office, Franklin has consistently discouraged supporters for him to run for the state assembly.

Advice to lovelorn by Ben Franklin. Phil. Dec. 1746
Philadelphia’s favourite polymath, is no diverting his mighty intellect towards affairs of the heart. In the past year he has written and published essays entitled “Advice to a Young Man on choosing a Mistress” and others. Franklin’s thoughts on such subjects are much earthier than the readers might expect from the author of the Poor Richard maxims “As in the Dark all Cats are grey, the pleasure of Corporal Enjoyment with an older woman is at least equal and frequently superior”.

France, England - at war in America. Ohio River July 3, 1754
With many men killed or wounded, many more drunk with rum intended for the Indians and with everyone wet, exhausted and surrounded by a superior force, Lieutenant colonel George Washington has surrendered to Coulon de Villiers, the commander of the French forces at Great Meadows, where Fort Necessity is situated. The English, rather than being treated as prisoners of war, will be permitted to return to Virginia with their guns and ammunition.

Washington commands British Forces. Ohio River Valley 13thJuly, 1755. French forces, knowing they were about to be surrounded left Fort Duquesne four days ago and ambushed a force of British and colonial troops under the command of Major-General Edward Braddock, wounding him fatally and routing his forces. The Battle of the Wilderness took place seven miles south of Fort Duquesne. Braddock died and the leadership of the British force fell to Colonel George Washington.
The French as well as the Indians supporting them fought indian style hiding behind bushes and rocks, but the British chose to defend themselves European fashion, dressing ranks when coming under attack. This made them excellent targets.

Both Sides suffer reverses in the War between France And Britain. July 1758
British forces were driven off with heavy casualties when they tried to capture Fort Carillon at Ticonderoga. It is reported that 464 of the 15,000 attack force were killed - the losses on the French side were minimal - 106 killed. The heavily outnumbered defenders were led by the Marquis of Montcalm.

The British flag flew over the French fortress of Louisbourg once more after a two-week siege ended with the surrender of its defenders. The winning British commander was General James Wolfe. The fort had originally been captured by the British in 1745, but was returned to the French three years later under the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

British colonies are a symphony of sound.
New York City May 3, 1762
In Charleston this year citizens founded the St. Cecilia Society, while in Stoughton, Massachusetts, they formed The Old Musical Society, the first such groups in America. Ben Franklin, who plays the harp and guitar, is one of several noted gentlemen amateur musicians while Thomas Jefferson often plays violin duets with Patrick Henry.

British capture Quebec.; rival generals killed. Quebec Sept. 18,1759.
This capital of New France has surrendered to British troops following a brief but fierce battle in which the commanders of both sides were killed. The British now stand in firm control of the French bastion in the New World.
The dead leaders were General Wolfe, who commanded the British, and the Marquis of Montcalm who was in charge of the French defenders. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham is probably the most consequential of the many that have been fought by the rival British and French. Wolfe and his troops had been advancing up the St. Lawrence River for more than a year. His 9,000 man force arrived at Quebec toward the end of June in a flotilla of 168 ships
The British scaled the cliffs (the Heights of Abraham) by following a creek bed and took up positions on the Plains of Abraham. It was at this point that Montcalm made his fatal mistake. He ordered his poorly trained and ill-equipped troops into an attack on the British lines. When the French came within 40 feet of them, the British opened fire and charged. The French fled in confusion and the battle was over.

France cedes all Canada to British.
Paris, Feb 10, 1763.
The removal of France as a power in North America has been confirmed with the signing here of a treaty that brings the French and Indian War to a conclusion. Although the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the West Indies with other minor islands of the St. Lawrence are to be returned to France they have lost all their possessions on the continent. Britain will soon have to consider what concessions it should offer the French-Canadian settlers who now find themselves reluctant subject of King George III.

The American Revolution was the most important event in the history of the United States. Not only did it transform the English colonies in America into a free, independent nation that would eventually become the richest and most powerful in the world, it also did much to determine what kind of nation it would be. The revolution was, therefore, more than simply a rebellion against the British rule and a long, difficult war. In the course of the Revolution, Americans decided what principles they would embrace, how they would be governed and how they would relate to each other.
Few Americans would, even in the early 1760‘s that in a little more than a decade their society would be moving toward independence. Most colonists valued their membership in the British Empire and saw no reason to challenge it. The imperial system offered many benefits and few costs. It tied the American colonies into a system of international trade. It offered them military protection. It gave them a stable political system and asked nothing in return. The colonies were, on the whole, left alone to run their affairs as they liked. Even the British laws designed to regulate external trade were administered so casually that American merchants had little difficulty circumventing them.
Ever since the beginning of English settlement in America, the colonies had been developing - culturally, intellectually and politically - into societies very different from the English world they were ostensibly re-creating. As long as the British left the American alone, it was possible to overlook these fundamental differences. But with the end of the French/Indian War in 1763, the colonial relationship changed. For the first time in 50 years, Britain was genuinely at peace and was able to turn its attention to the organisation of its empire. At the same time Britain found itself burdened with enormous debts form the many years of fighting. The end of the war had given Britain dominion over vast new lands in the New World that had once belonged to the French. For all these reasons, the government of King George III, who had assumed the throne in 1760, felt both entitled and justified in expanding its involvement in the colonies.

Americans in the meantime, had grown so accustomed to managing their own affair that they had come to consider such freedom their right. The victorious war of empire in which they had played an important role had given them a heightened sense of their own importance and hardened their assumptions about their political autonomy. The colonial assemblies, which officials in London considered minor local bodies subordinate to Parliament, were to Americans, centres of great authority, with rights and privileges that even parliament could not abridge. The power of taxation, which the British believed lay ultimately with them, the Americans considered an inalienable local prerogative.
For more than a decade after the French/Indian War the imperial relationship was beset by a series of steadily escalating tensions. In 1765, the Stamp Act crisis was the first effort by the British government to impose a direct tax on the American. This offensive statute brought the colonies to the brink of revolt before Parliament repealed it Then in 1773, after several years of relative calm, Parliament passed the Tea Act, which gave the struggling British East India Company special privileges in the American market and enraged colonists.
A Continental Congress, with representatives from 12 of the 13 colonies, met to co-ordinate colonial resistance and in Massachusetts colonists began to store arms and to train “Minutemen” (volunteers ready to fight at a minutes notice), to oppose the British by force, if necessary. In April 1775, the British troops attempted to arrest the rebel leaders and seize an illegal supply of arms in Concord. The result were the battles of Concord and Lexington- the first hostilities of the War of Independence.

Initially many American believed they were fighting for their rightful place in the Britsh Empire but by the summer of 1776, sentiment for independence had gained wide popular favour. On July 4th of that year, the Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, proclaimed the existence of a new nation: the United States of America.

At the same time that they were fighting a war, Americans were designing a political system. Earl in 1776, even before the Declaration of Independence, Americans in several colonies were beginning to create written constitutions. At first most thought central government should remain relatively weak, that each state should be close to a sovereign nation. This philosophy led in 1777 to the ill fated Articles of Confederation which failed. I(n 1787, the nation finally created for itself what the individual states had produced years before : a written constitution and a government consisting of three independent branches. The American Constitution was not without flaws. Delegates could not agree on the subject of Slavery and the question was left unresolved to plague future generations. On balance, the creation of the Constitution was a remarkable achievement. In the space of a few weeks in Philadelphia, an astute group of men wrote a document that two centuries later, would survive as the basis of one of the oldest and stablest government in the world.

Pontiac allies surrender. Fort Niagara Nov. 1764
One of the largest and most impressive gatherings of Indians in North America was held at Fort Niagara in July when more than 2,000 representatives of the Indian tribes lately allied with the rebellious Ottawa Chief Pontiac came to participate in peace negotiations conducted by Sir William Johnson. Also present were 1200 troops under Col. John Bradstreet sent from Albany to impress the Indians with the strength and resolve of the British Government. Wasson, principal chief of the Chippewas and the ranking chief present gave a speech professing submission to the will of the British

Another hated Law - The Stamp Act. London Nov. 1 1765.

The highly controversial Stamp Act finally took effect today, but it may be many months before the parliament collects a penny from the colonies. Riots erupted in New York and an effigy of the Prime minister was hanged from a liberty pole in Boston. The legislation was designed to raise money in the colonies to help support British troops stationed there. The legislation calls for revenues to be collected from stamps affixed to different sorts of printed matters including papers of all description

British drop The Stamp Act. Boston Apr. 26. 1766
Throughout the colonies bells rang, flags fluttered and patriots cheered as word spread that Parliament had repealed the hated Stamp Act. Describing the scene colonial leader john Adams wrote: “The Liberty Tree was adorned ll day with banners and illuminated in the evening, till the boughs could hold no more. The Whole town was splendidly illuminated.
The House of Commons took the lead in repealing the act on March 4. The vote was 250 - 122 in favour. To a great extent members were swayed by the testimony of merchants who complained about the precipitous drop in exports to the colonies.
Ben Franklin, the statesman from :Pennsylvania, aided the colonial cause by saying the colonies were not averse to all taxes.

British Set New Taxes. London Nov. 20, 1767.
Their author died on September 4, but the Townshend Acts have gone into effect, placing new taxes on articles imported by the American colonies . Piloting the act through the Parliament was the crowning achievement of Charles Townshend’s 18-year political career.
Why not place duties on such small innocuous items as lead, glass, paints, paper and tea Townshend asked. For one thing this would be an external tax, therefore less likely to raise a fuss in the colonies. It is the internal taxes that the Americans seem to get into a lather about. The tax on tea seemed not to matter much anyway since tea from the Netherlands is so openly smuggled into major ports that it could hardly be called smuggling at all. Townshend considered the American distinction between external and internal taxes ridiculous. “If we have a right to impose one we can also impose the other.”

Legislators get the Revere Bowl for Resistance. Boston Sept. 13 1768.
Lord Hillsborough, the newly appointed crown secretary for the colonies, today ordered the Massachusetts Assembly to rescind a circular letter drafted by Sam Adams and James Otis that was critical of the Townshend Acts. The Assembly refused by a 92-17 vote, and Boston’s Sons of Liberty, lost no time in making the assemblies decision a matter of patriotic celebration.
They ordered a commemorative punch-bowl from the silversmith Paul Revere who engraved it with the “Immortal 92”, ”No 45“, ”No General Warrants“ and other symbols of liberty

British Troops Debark to face Rebels
Boston Oct. 1, 1768
With flags flying, with drums beating and fifes playing, two regiments of infantry, the 14th and 29th , marched up King Street today on the way to their quarters following disembarkation at the Long Wharf. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Dalrymple , the regiments arrived in the harbour from Halifax three days ago, escorted by Men-o-War of the Royal Navy. Two other regiments the 64th and 65th, have been ordered to Boston by Lord Hillsborough. Despite rumours that the Sons of Liberty planned to rouse the country and actively resist the troops, disembarkation has taken place peacefully. The soldiers have been warmly welcomed by British officials and Tory sympathisers.

Spaniards begin to settle in California. San Diego July 16,1769.
With the establishment today of the mission San Diego de Alcala, Spain has given the European world indisputable proof of its intention to make California a bastion of Spanish influence and authority on the West Coast of North America. This is expected to give credibility to its desire for hegemony in the American West. Situated on a peaceful bay, San Diego is covered by grassy plains. The churchmen say that fresh water and good land abound, which should enable the settlers to produce an abundance of grain, fruits and vegetables. They have also noted plenty of deer, antelope and rabbits.
The mission founder , the 55 year old Father Serra, was born in Majorca. He took his orders in the Franciscan brotherhood in 1731. He was then a teacher of philosophy at the College of San Fernando.

Jefferson proposes law to free slaves. Virginia 1769
Recently elected to the house of Burgesses, scientist and free thinker, Thomas Jefferson has, in his first legislative effort, introduced a measure calling for the emancipation of the slaves. The proposal, not very popular, was ultimately rejected. Another act was passed however, that exempts free-born Negroes from the “payment of any public county or parish levies”. This comes as a result of a petition brought to Virginia’s legislature by free Negroes and mulattos asking that their wives and daughters be exempt from taxation, which they call burdensome and derogatory to the rights of free-born subjects. The petition met with approval.

British Fire on Enraged Boston Mob. March 5, 1770.
Insults quickly turned into violence tonight and by the time the shooting had stopped, three patriots were dead. Two others were critically wounded and near death after a battle with British soldiers. Six other men were wounded, but will apparently survive. The trouble began when a young barber named Edward Garrick accused a soldier of the 29th Regiment of striking his head with a gun. Captain Thomas Preston mustered a small group of soldiers to assist the sentry, but they were all attacked by a mob led by a mulatto named Crispus Attucks. Sticks oyster shells and snowballs were thrown as the mob dared the British troops to fire

Sons of Liberty attack British in New York. New York City Apr. 29, 1770.
Patriot leader Alexander McDougall has been released on bail after pleading ‘not guilty’ to charges of contempt. He was jailed in January after leading fellow “Sons of Liberty”, armed with swords and clubs, into a skirmish with British troops on Golden Hill. Several participants on both sides were seriously wounded. Only two days earlier, the colonists ‘liberty pole’ had succumbed to an assault by the British.
Tensions between soldiers and patriots have been rising all year. The colonists resent the Quartering Act and abhor the fact that British soldiers supplement their income by taking jobs from Americans.

Patriots fling tea into Boston Harbour. Dec. 16, 1773
Shortly after 6 o’clock tonight, the doors of the old south meetinghouse burst open and a thousand patriots ran towards the three British ships anchored in the harbour.. Many of the colonists shouted chilling war-cries. Some were disguised as Indians. They ran down Milk Street, turned down Hutchison Street, and ran straight to Griffins wharf. Armed with axes and pistols, the patriots climbed aboard the Dartmouth and chopped open all the sea-chest, then hurled the tea into the harbour, where it piled up.

A short while later they attacked the Eleanor and the Beaver. By 9 o’clock all three ships had been stripped of their hated cargo and the jubilant crowd began to disperse. Most of the patriots vowed they would never pay British taxes, and boasted of winning a great victory. While it is too early to know how Britain will respond to this brazen assault on its authority, one patriot leader, Josiah Quincy Jr. Predicted that the night no one in Boston will ever forget would lead to “the most terrific struggle this country ever saw”. John Adams, who supported the action despite his moderate views, also saw the dumping of the tea as an event of great consequence. “The people should never arise 2 he said ”without doing something to be remembered, something notable and striking “. None of the British sailors on the ships were injured, and the attackers took care to destroy only the tea on board. The rest of the cargo was left intact. Their mission completed, the patriots stepped back onto the wharf and carefully removed their shoes so that any tea leaves that had slipped inside could also be dumped into the harbour to await the tide.