agreement, the British merchants were very much affected: for
example, the import trade from Great Britain to the American
colonies declined about 95% by 1775. The Americans had some great
British leaders on their side, but they were definitely in the
minority. Edmund Burke and William Pitt urged that the "Intolerable
Acts" be repealed and predicted that war was approaching with
the American colonies if most of the objectionable laws were not
repealed at this time. Burke and Pitt were overruled, however, in
Parliament. Thus, the breach between the American colonies and the
mother country became wider as time passed.
Continued growth in the number of counties reflected increases in
population and a trend toward the rising importance of community
life. From 1750 to 1775, several additional counties were formed:
Halifax (formed from Lunenburg and named for George Montagu Dunk,
Second Earl of Halifax and the first Lord of the Board of Trade),
Dinwiddie (formed from Prince George County and named for Lord
Dinwiddie, acting Lieutenant Governor of the Virginia Colony
from 1751-1758), Prince Edward (formed from Amelia County and
named for Edward Augustus, Prince of Wales), Bedford (formed from
Lunenburg and part of Albemarle County and named for John Russell,
Fourth Duke of Bedford, Secretary of State in Great Britain from
1748-1757), Sussex (formed from Surry County and named for Sussex
County, England), Loudoun (formed from Fairfax County and named
for John Campbell, Fourth Earl of Loudoun, Commander-in-Chief
of the British forces during the latter part of the French and
Indian War and Governor-General of the American Colonies from 1756
to 1763), Fauquier (formed from Prince William County and named
after Francis Fauquier, Lieutenant Governor from 1758 to 1768),
Buckingham (formed from Albemarle County and named probably for
the Duke of Buckingham), Charlotte (formed from Lunenburg and
named for Princess Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg, George III's
queen), Mecklenburg (formed from Lunenburg and named in honor of
the same queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz), Pittsylvania
(formed from Halifax County and named for Sir William Pitt, a famous
English statesman who was pro-American toward the British Colonies
in America), Botetourt (formed from Augusta County and part of
Rockbridge County and named for Norborne Berkeley, Lord Botetourt,
Governor of Virginia from 1768 to 1770) and Amherst County (formed
from Albemarle County "and certain islands in the Fluvanna River"
and named for Sir Jeffrey Amherst, Governor-General of Virginia,
1759-1768).
S U M M A R Y
The historical Life of Virginia from 1584 to 1775 illustrates
the "trial and error" method of learning to live cooperatively,
comfortably and profitably in the New World. The inhabitants of
the "Cradle of American Civilization" were faced with severe
personal handicaps, problems of government (many of which had to
be solved in an original fashion), explorations into untrodden and
often uncivilized areas, the task of establishing a land economy,
rebellions of the common man against the privileged few and the
establishment of a culture and way of life adapted to the type of
environment and peoples living in the area. The efforts of such
leaders as John Smith, John Rolfe, Edwin Sandys, George Yeardley,
Benjamin Syms, Thomas Eaton, James Blair, Alexander Spotswood,
Thomas Lee, Robert Dinwiddie, George Washington, Patrick Henry,
Richard Bland, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Peyton Randolph
and Andrew Lewis helped unite the colonists in Virginia in their
development of democratic living.
During this period, the first representative legislative assembly in
America was held, the first group of Negro slaves were imported to
America, the first group of unmarried women arrived in the colonies,
the first royal colony of England was organized, a county system of
local government was established, the Commonwealth of Virginia was
created, the second oldest college in America was founded, the first
theater in America was built, many of the most beautiful plantation
houses were constructed, the British became the dominant colonists
in America, slavery became an accepted characteristic of plantation
life, fifty-four counties were formed and strong opposition of the
colonists in Virginia to political and economic control by the
British King and Parliament was becoming very apparent. The first
special Virginia Convention held in Williamsburg to determine
the extent of Virginia's boycott of British goods and to choose
delegates to a Continental Congress and the York River Tea Party
at Yorktown exemplified mounting opposition. The stage of life in
Virginia seemed naturally set for specific action against strict
foreign regulation and control.
3
Historical Life: 1775-1860
_The Revolutionary War Era_
A second Virginia Convention was held from March 20 to March 27,
1775 at St. John's Church, Richmond. Peyton Randolph was again
chosen president of the convention. The members of this convention
soon were divided into distinct groups: (1) the conservative group,
led by Peyton Randolph, which deplored radical thinking and actions
and still favored reconciliation with the mother country, England,
and (2) the aggressive group, led by Patrick Henry, which believed
conciliation and compromise were no longer possible or feasible and
advocated military preparedness within the colony.
On the first day, March 20, Patrick Henry delivered his famous
speech, the most significant and oft-repeated section stating:
"Gentlemen may cry: Peace! Peace! but there is no peace. The war
is actually begun!... Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be
purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty
God! I know not what course others may take, but, as for me, give
me liberty, or give me death!" This fiery speech combined with
his others earned for Patrick Henry the title, "The Tongue of the
Revolution" or "The Mouthpiece of the Revolution." The first three
days passed without either group committing itself. On the fourth
day, however, a resolution was adopted bestowing thanks upon the
Assembly of Jamaica for its petition to the King on behalf of the
American colonies and stating an ardent desire for peace. Patrick
Henry then proposed an unusual resolution to follow the preceding
one, namely: the establishment of "a well-regulated militia,
composed of gentlemen and yeomen." His brilliant oratorical powers
of persuasion caused the resolution to be carried, and the military
resources of the colony were immediately directed to be organized
and made efficient. The convention also appealed to all the people
for contributions for the relief of the Bostonians because they
were "suffering in the common cause of American freedom." Later at
this convention, delegates to the Second Continental Congress were
elected: Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, Peyton
Randolph and George Wythe.
On April 21, 1775, Governor Dunmore, who had unsuccessfully tried
to prevent the Richmond convention from taking place in order that
delegates could not be elected to attend the Second Continental
Congress, became very much aroused over the bitter feeling of the
colonists toward Great Britain. He decided that he could break down
some of the colonial assuredness and resistance against the King
and against his personal orders if he could remove from the powder
magazine at Williamsburg the munition powder which belonged to the
colony. Therefore, he ordered twenty sailors from a British ship
anchored at Williamsburg to obtain this powder. They hid in the
Governor's Palace; during the night, they visited the magazine,
removed all the powder which they could fit into the Governor's
wagon and took it to their armed ship, the "Fowey," in the harbor
for safekeeping. When the colonists learned the next morning of
this activity, a company of Hanover volunteers, led by Patrick
Henry, marched upon Williamsburg and forced the King's sailors to
compensate by giving bills for the value of the powder taken from
the magazine. Governor Dunmore was then beseeched to pay for the
cost of the powder, at least in sterling. He finally paid this
amount because of the persistence of Patrick Henry. Only strenuous
efforts on the part of Patrick Henry's personal friends kept him and
the local militia from imprisoning the Governor himself for such
action. Patrick Henry was declared an outlaw by Governor Dunmore.
Anti-British feeling rapidly increased on the part of the colonists
after this incident.
Approximately a week after this unpleasant incident, John Paul
Jones, a Scottish-Virginian who was a resident of Fredericksburg,
recommended that the colonies should have an official navy. He was a
former British seaman, and he offered his services to the colonies
at this time in an attempt to raise a naval force. The Second
Continental Congress later appointed a Naval Committee whose chief
duty was to organize a naval force. At its invitation, John Paul
Jones explained to the Committee the great strength of the British
Navy and the futility of the colonists to try to compete with it.
He stated, however, that, if the colonists had fifteen ships armed
with guns, these could be successfully utilized to annoy British
ships. His suggestion was accepted, and thirteen frigates plus two
brigs made up the first American Navy. John Paul Jones received the
first naval commission at Independence Hall on December 22, 1775.
Therefore, he is often referred to as "The Father of the American
Navy."
Before the Second Continental Congress was due to meet, the Battle
of Lexington and Concord (near Boston) had taken place on April 19,
1775. After this "shot heard 'round the world," the Americans were
most sympathetic toward their fellow-colonists of Massachusetts. On
May 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress began in Independence
Hall, Philadelphia. Although there was a majority of the members
who now believed a revolution was inevitable, there were also many
conservatives who preferred compromise of any type rather than war.
This congress proceeded to take necessary steps for organizing and
equipping an American army. On June 16, 1775, it assumed control
of the colonial forces already formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
after the Battle of Lexington and Concord. It appointed George
Washington as Commander-in-Chief of this American Continental Army
and assumed complete responsibility for the salaries and supplies of
the servicemen.
On June 1, 1775 Governor Dunmore called the Virginia House of
Burgesses together for the purpose of discussing some British
proposals originated by Lord North. The members did not favor
these, however, and proceeded to suggest the levying of a tax
of five pounds per head on each imported slave as an attempt to
raise revenue for payment of the recent Lord Dunmore War with the
Indians. In order to protect the slave trade benefits for England,
the Governor vetoed this proposal. This action was his last veto
in the Colony of Virginia. Later that month, Lord Dunmore, sensing
the sincerity of the Americans in this revolution, feared for
his royal governorship life. Consequently, on June 8, he fled
from Williamsburg to a British man-of-war ship, the "Fowey," in
the Yorktown harbor. His flight practically dissolved the royal
government in Virginia. The Virginia Assembly asked Governor Dunmore
to return under its protection but he refused to do so. His refusal
to return after an official petition had been issued was considered
by the Virginians as abdication on his part from office. Thus, when
it adjourned on June 20, 1775, the last Virginia colonial General
Assembly ended.
On July 3, 1775, Washington took official command of the American
Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and his first military
objective was to drive the British away from Boston. After he had
been there a few weeks, he visited some troops for inspection. Upon
inquiring about the place of origin of one company, he was surprised
and delighted to hear the answer, "General, from the Banks of the
Potomac." The speaker was Daniel Morgan, who had accompanied his
corps of riflemen from Winchester, Virginia to Boston, 600 miles
distance in twenty-one days without a single death. Morgan had
fought with Washington during the French and Indian War and had
participated in the war against the Indians in the Ohio Valley
campaign. Washington was so happy to see these fellow-Virginians
that he took time from his busy schedule to shake hands personally
with each member of the corps. After Morgan and his troops had
participated successfully in the Massachusetts Campaign, he
later sent them to Canada for the Quebec campaign. This campaign
unfortunately resulted in a defeat for the Americans, and Morgan
was taken prisoner. Although Morgan was offered a commission in the
British army while he was imprisoned, he violently rejected the
offer. Although he remained a prisoner for a long time, he rejoined
the American Army as soon as he was free to do so. The famous
American victory at the Battle of Saratoga is now accredited to the
military strategy and tactics of General Daniel Morgan. Another
important later victory for which he was directly responsible was
the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina. He is one of the many great
military men furnished by the colony and by the state of Virginia.
From July 17 to August 26, 1775, the Third Virginia Convention
was held. The meeting place was Richmond, and Peyton Randolph was
elected president of the convention. George Mason had been appointed
to succeed George Washington at this convention because Washington
was busily engaged as Commander-in-Chief of the American Army.
Since Governor Dunmore had already fled from the colony, the royal
government had been theoretically dissolved and Virginia gained
the status of an independent state. Therefore, the members of this
convention believed that they had to assume responsibility for
governing Virginia under the circumstances. Consequently, the one
hundred and fifteen delegates present proposed acts and passed them
as laws called ordinances. Ordinances passed contained the following
provisions: (1) the organization of military forces for the defense
of Virginia into two regiments; (2) the creation of an executive
body called the Committee of Safety to act as the government while
the convention was in recess; (3) a plan for adequate revenue for
the provisional government and for the Army of Virginia; (4) the
establishment of executive county committees; (5) the regulation of
the election of delegates to future conventions; (6) the election of
new representatives to a future Continental Congress, and (7) the
division of Virginia into sixteen military districts.
On August 17, 1775, the first Committee of Safety for Virginia was
appointed by the Virginia Convention of July 1775. It consisted
of eleven members, namely, Richard Bland, Carter Braxton, William
Cabell, Paul Carrington, Dudley Digges, Thomas Ludwell Lee, George
Mason, James Mercer, John Page, Edmund Pendleton and John Tabb.
Edmund Pendleton was the chairman of this committee. Various members
of the Committee of Safety actually ruled Virginia from the time
it ceased to be a British colony until it officially became an
independent state.
On December 1, 1775 the Fourth Virginia Convention was held at
Richmond, but soon after the convention had become organized, it
moved to Williamsburg. Edmund Pendleton was elected president
of the convention. The chief problem of this convention was
military protection and security for Virginia in the face of war.
The army was increased from two regiments to nine regiments with
an enlistment requiring two years of military service. The chief
measures passed during the Fourth Virginia Convention of December
1775-January 1776 included the appointment of a commission of five
men in each county to try cases of those individuals believed to be
enemies of America, the creation of an admiralty court to hear cases
involving maritime or naval affairs, the granting of permission
for county courts to elect a sheriff for a one-year term and the
issuing of special instructions to the Virginia delegates to the
next Continental Congress to encourage the opening of American ports
to the commerce of all foreign nations except Great Britain and the
British West Indies. It was also decided at this convention to allow
the Virginia troops to be merged or absorbed into the Continental
Army and to have future military officers commissioned by the
Continental Congress rather than by individual state or colonial
legislatures. Another Committee of Safety for Virginia was named:
nine members were re-appointed and two new members were substituted.
Edmund Pendleton was still the chairman and the other committee
members were Richard Bland, William Cabell, Paul Carrington, Dudley
Digges, Joseph Jones, Thomas Ludwell Lee, James Mercer, John Page,
John Tabb and Thomas Walker. On January 20, 1776, the convention
adjourned.
During the convention, another Lord Dunmore episode took place. Lord
Dunmore had become a real threat to the Virginians because, after he
had fled from Williamsburg and from Yorktown, he armed many Negroes
and persuaded them to fight for the King in return for their future
freedom. He commanded a force which at this time was in possession
of Norfolk and its adjacent areas. Eight days after the convention
began, Lord Dunmore dispatched a few of his British regulars to
attack some of the Virginian troops under Colonel William Woodford.
These Virginians had constructed a breastwork along the southern
branch of the Elizabeth River, approximately twelve miles from
Norfolk. Colonel Woodford's Virginia troops killed almost all the
British regulars, much to the surprise of Lord Dunmore, who quickly
retreated to a part of the British fleet docked in Norfolk harbor.
Later, while the convention was still in session, on January 1,
1776, Lord Dunmore with a small land and sea force bombarded and
burned Norfolk itself which consisted of about 6,000 residents
at the time. Many houses were completely burned and others badly
damaged. St. Paul's Church was the only building to survive this
bombardment and embedded cannon balls in the south wall of the
church may still be seen which were fired from the ships in the
harbor. Dunmore and his forces finally sailed up the Chesapeake
Bay and stationed themselves off Gwynn's Island, near the present
Mathews County mainland. From this area, Dunmore and his friends
made repeated plunder attacks along the coast of Virginia until
summer.
During the same month of January, a dramatic episode occurred at
Woodstock. John Peter Gabriel Mühlenberg, an ex-German soldier
who had migrated to Virginia and had become a minister, was very
strongly pro-Virginia and very strongly anti-British King. He had
received a military commission as a colonel from General George
Washington due to his past military experience. His duty was to
form a regiment of Germans living in the valley. On this particular
Sunday, he ascended the pulpit and began to preach concerning the
theme, "There is a time to every purpose ... a time to war and a
time to peace!" He proceeded to describe the unjust treatment which
the American colonies had received from the British King and the
Parliament. At the conclusion of his sermon, he stated: "There is
a time for all things--a time to preach and a time to pray; but
there is a time to fight, and that time has come now." With these
surprising words, he threw back his minister's attire and stood
fully clothed in the blue and buff uniform of a Continental Colonel
with the official sword at his side. He immediately descended
from the pulpit and, in a very short time, had enlisted three
hundred citizens within this small community in the Eighth Virginia
Regiment. Thus, Mühlenberg earned for himself the title of the
"Fighting Parson" and with his regiment marched directly to help
the South Carolina Army. The regiment was later referred to as the
German Regiment because it was made up solely of German Americans.
It served with great honor during the Revolutionary War. Mühlenberg
himself had the distinction of being with General Washington when
Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.
The Fifth Virginia Convention, now called the Virginia
Constitutional Convention, began on May 6, 1776 at Williamsburg. By
this time, the British had been driven out of Boston and out of the
New England area in general. The American attempt to invade Canada
had been unsuccessful, but the British had been defeated in North
and South Carolina. Public opinion in Virginia which had been only
"lukewarm" to complete separation from England at the early stages
of the war now became very strongly in favor of it--particularly
after the bombardment and burning of Norfolk. Most of the delegates
had been instructed before coming to the convention to work toward
two specific objectives: American independence and a representative
government for Virginia. There were one hundred and thirty-one
delegates present at this convention, representing sixty-six
counties and corporations. Some of the outstanding members at this
convention were James Madison, Edmund Randolph and Archibald Cary.
The various sections of Virginia were represented at the Fifth
Convention. The type of clothing worn at the convention made the
sections easily recognizable: there was an outstanding contrast
between the homespun, practical clothing of the frontiersmen and the
fancy British-made clothing of the wealthy traders and plantation
owners. The convention members elected delegates to the Continental
Congress and instructed them to propose American independence from
England. The delegates chosen were George Washington, John Blair,
James Madison, George Mason, James McClurg, Edmund Randolph and
George Wythe. On May 15, a resolution was introduced by Archibald
Cary and passed which declared the colony of Virginia a free and
independent State. Immediately the British flag was lowered from the
Capitol at Williamsburg and the colonial colors were raised instead.
At this same convention, on May 27, Archibald Cary presented to the
members the "Declaration of Rights" prepared by George Mason for
this convention. This document stated the fundamental rights of
English colonists as well as of Englishmen.
On June 12, 1776 Mason's "Declaration of Rights" was unanimously
adopted. Its principles were considered so important that they
were later the basis of the Bill of Rights in the United States
Constitution and eventually were used as the background for state
constitution Bills of Rights. The Virginia Bill of Rights is often
referred to as the "Magna Charta of Virginia." George Mason also
recommended the original motto of the official seal of the State of
Virginia at this convention: "Sic Semper Tyrannis"--"Thus Always (or
ever) to Tyrants."
In the same session, James Madison actively participated in a
discussion concerning religious liberty and tolerance. He proposed a
clause in the Virginia Bill of Rights to allow the "free exercise of
religion" because he strongly believed that the state should have no
coercive power over religious thought. This clause was adopted, and
James Madison for the first time attracted state-wide attention to
his thinking and philosophy.