Posted on Apr 4, 2018
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After the successful siege of Boston, General George Washington begins marching his unpaid soldiers from their headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, toward New York in anticipation of a British invasion, on this day in 1776.
In a letter to the president of Congress, General Washington wrote of his intentions in marching to New York and expressed frustration with Congress for failing to send adequate funds to allow him to pay his troops. Washington wrote, I heartily wish the money had arrived sooner, that the Militia might have been paid as soon as their time of Service expired. The lack of payment left Washington’s soldiers with feelings of great uneasiness and they are gone home much dissatisfied and the commander in chief had received severe complaints from the other Troops on the same account. Washington hoped that, upon his arrival in New York, a sufficient sum will be there ready to pay every claim.
The Continental Congress’ inability to promptly pay or adequately supply its soldiers persisted throughout the war and continued as a subject of debate following the peace at Yorktown. Two major ramifications of the financial crisis marked the birth of the new nation. First, Congress began to pay soldiers with promises of western lands instead of currency—the same land Congress simultaneously promised to its Indian allies. Secondly, Congress’ inability to pay expenses even after winning the war eventually convinced conservative Patriots that it was necessary to overthrow the Articles of Confederation and draft the Constitution of the United States. The new and more centralized Constitution, with its three branches of government, had greater authority to raise funds and an increased ability to manage the new nation’s finances. Alexander Hamilton, in his role as the first secretary of the treasury under President George Washington, focused his efforts on mimicking British financial institutions, most significantly in his championship of the First Bank of the United States, as a means of stabilizing the new nation’s economy.
In a letter to the president of Congress, General Washington wrote of his intentions in marching to New York and expressed frustration with Congress for failing to send adequate funds to allow him to pay his troops. Washington wrote, I heartily wish the money had arrived sooner, that the Militia might have been paid as soon as their time of Service expired. The lack of payment left Washington’s soldiers with feelings of great uneasiness and they are gone home much dissatisfied and the commander in chief had received severe complaints from the other Troops on the same account. Washington hoped that, upon his arrival in New York, a sufficient sum will be there ready to pay every claim.
The Continental Congress’ inability to promptly pay or adequately supply its soldiers persisted throughout the war and continued as a subject of debate following the peace at Yorktown. Two major ramifications of the financial crisis marked the birth of the new nation. First, Congress began to pay soldiers with promises of western lands instead of currency—the same land Congress simultaneously promised to its Indian allies. Secondly, Congress’ inability to pay expenses even after winning the war eventually convinced conservative Patriots that it was necessary to overthrow the Articles of Confederation and draft the Constitution of the United States. The new and more centralized Constitution, with its three branches of government, had greater authority to raise funds and an increased ability to manage the new nation’s finances. Alexander Hamilton, in his role as the first secretary of the treasury under President George Washington, focused his efforts on mimicking British financial institutions, most significantly in his championship of the First Bank of the United States, as a means of stabilizing the new nation’s economy.
Washington begins march to New York - Apr 04, 1776 - HISTORY.com
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25 Things About The Revolutionary War You Might Not Know
The Revolutionary War is one of history's major events. Although you’ve probably read the basics about the Revolutionary War, there’s a lot more to it than w...
Thanks TSgt Joe C. for letting us know that on April 4, 1776 after the successful siege of Boston, General George Washington began marching his unpaid soldiers from their headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, toward New York in anticipation of a British invasion.
Pay was a serious issue because the fledgling USA government was basically insolvent.
"Two major ramifications of the financial crisis marked the birth of the new nation. First, Congress began to pay soldiers with promises of western lands instead of currency—the same land Congress simultaneously promised to its Indian allies. Secondly, Congress’ inability to pay expenses even after winning the war eventually convinced conservative Patriots that it was necessary to overthrow the Articles of Confederation and draft the Constitution of the United States. The new and more centralized Constitution, with its three branches of government, had greater authority to raise funds and an increased ability to manage the new nation’s finances. Alexander Hamilton, in his role as the first secretary of the treasury under President George Washington, focused his efforts on mimicking British financial institutions, most significantly in his championship of the First Bank of the United States, as a means of stabilizing the new nation’s economy."
The Revolutionary War is one of history's major events. Although you’ve probably read the basics about the Revolutionary War, there’s a lot more to it than what you thought. From two Boston tea parties to who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence, these are 25 Things About The Revolutionary War You Might Not Know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8P4upXnsCM
Revolutionary war facts featured on this video:
Between 1650 and 1770 the economy of British North America (today the United States) grew 25 times
Because of this the colonists may have had the highest standard of living in the western world
This colonial wealth eventually led to the tax related tensions with Britain and thereafter to the Revolution
There were actually two Boston Tea Parties with the one you know about being on December 16, 1773. The Bostonians repeated it, however, several months later on March 7, 1774
The two events together cost the British $3 million (today's equivalent)
Benjamin Franklin actually wrote the first Declaration of Independence. Eventually, however, Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the final draft
John Adams successfully defended the British soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre because he believed in the "right to counsel" and "protection of innocence"
The first submarine attack in history took place in New York Harbor in 1776. The colonists attempted to attach gunpowder to the hull of the British ship HMS Eagle using a submersible they called The Turtle.
At first George Washington was hesitant about enlisting black men into the continental army but when he heard they fought well at Bunker Hill he changed his mind.
Benjamin Franklin actually wrote the first Declaration of Independence. Eventually, however, Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the final draft
John Adams successfully defended the British soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre because he believed in the "right to counsel" and "protection of innocence"
The first submarine attack in history took place in New York Harbor in 1776. The colonists attempted to attach gunpowder to the hull of the British ship HMS Eagle using a submersible they called The Turtle.
At first George Washington was hesitant about enlisting black men into the continental army but when he heard they fought well at Bunker Hill he changed his mind.
The all black First Rhode Island Regiment consisted of 33 freedmen and 92 slaves who were guaranteed their freedom if they stuck out the war
Unfortunately they were all wiped out in a British attack before the war ended
By 1779, however, 1 in 7 soldiers in the continental army were black
The continental army also had numerous women serving as cooks, nurses, and a few who even saw combat
The most famous was Mary Ludwig Hays aka "Molly Pitcher" who replaced her injured husband at his cannon during the battle of Monmouth
George Washington was one of the greatest spies/spymasters in American history.
Although he is now known for his legendary honesty, he was in fact a genius at deception and would constantly leak "information" to the British that made his army seem much stronger than it was
By 1779 there were more Americans fighting in the British Army than in the Continental Army
Washington's army consisted of only 3,468 men in its entirety while nearly 8,000 Americans alone were in the British army
In fact, nearly 1/3 of Americans opposed the Revolution
At Yorktown, the battle that won the war, the French outnumbered Americans almost 3 to 1 (they were both fighting the British)
Washington only had 11,000 men while the French had almost 30,000 along with nearly 40 ships
Because King George III had vowed to continue fighting even after Yorktown, he ended up writing a letter of abdication when parliament objected to his plan
He then withdrew his letter and consoled himself with the hope that Washington would become a dictator and the colonists would once again desire British rule
George Washington, however, surprised everybody (including King George III) when he stepped down in 1783 with these words to Congress – "Having now finished the work assigned to me…I retire from the great theatre of action"
When King George heard about it he even gasped, "If he does that, sir, he will be the greatest man in the world."
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi LTC (Join to see) LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Jeff S. CPT Jack Durish MSG Dan Walther MSgt Robert C Aldi SFC Stephen King MSgt Danny Hope SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl Craig Marton SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan
Pay was a serious issue because the fledgling USA government was basically insolvent.
"Two major ramifications of the financial crisis marked the birth of the new nation. First, Congress began to pay soldiers with promises of western lands instead of currency—the same land Congress simultaneously promised to its Indian allies. Secondly, Congress’ inability to pay expenses even after winning the war eventually convinced conservative Patriots that it was necessary to overthrow the Articles of Confederation and draft the Constitution of the United States. The new and more centralized Constitution, with its three branches of government, had greater authority to raise funds and an increased ability to manage the new nation’s finances. Alexander Hamilton, in his role as the first secretary of the treasury under President George Washington, focused his efforts on mimicking British financial institutions, most significantly in his championship of the First Bank of the United States, as a means of stabilizing the new nation’s economy."
The Revolutionary War is one of history's major events. Although you’ve probably read the basics about the Revolutionary War, there’s a lot more to it than what you thought. From two Boston tea parties to who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence, these are 25 Things About The Revolutionary War You Might Not Know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8P4upXnsCM
Revolutionary war facts featured on this video:
Between 1650 and 1770 the economy of British North America (today the United States) grew 25 times
Because of this the colonists may have had the highest standard of living in the western world
This colonial wealth eventually led to the tax related tensions with Britain and thereafter to the Revolution
There were actually two Boston Tea Parties with the one you know about being on December 16, 1773. The Bostonians repeated it, however, several months later on March 7, 1774
The two events together cost the British $3 million (today's equivalent)
Benjamin Franklin actually wrote the first Declaration of Independence. Eventually, however, Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the final draft
John Adams successfully defended the British soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre because he believed in the "right to counsel" and "protection of innocence"
The first submarine attack in history took place in New York Harbor in 1776. The colonists attempted to attach gunpowder to the hull of the British ship HMS Eagle using a submersible they called The Turtle.
At first George Washington was hesitant about enlisting black men into the continental army but when he heard they fought well at Bunker Hill he changed his mind.
Benjamin Franklin actually wrote the first Declaration of Independence. Eventually, however, Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the final draft
John Adams successfully defended the British soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre because he believed in the "right to counsel" and "protection of innocence"
The first submarine attack in history took place in New York Harbor in 1776. The colonists attempted to attach gunpowder to the hull of the British ship HMS Eagle using a submersible they called The Turtle.
At first George Washington was hesitant about enlisting black men into the continental army but when he heard they fought well at Bunker Hill he changed his mind.
The all black First Rhode Island Regiment consisted of 33 freedmen and 92 slaves who were guaranteed their freedom if they stuck out the war
Unfortunately they were all wiped out in a British attack before the war ended
By 1779, however, 1 in 7 soldiers in the continental army were black
The continental army also had numerous women serving as cooks, nurses, and a few who even saw combat
The most famous was Mary Ludwig Hays aka "Molly Pitcher" who replaced her injured husband at his cannon during the battle of Monmouth
George Washington was one of the greatest spies/spymasters in American history.
Although he is now known for his legendary honesty, he was in fact a genius at deception and would constantly leak "information" to the British that made his army seem much stronger than it was
By 1779 there were more Americans fighting in the British Army than in the Continental Army
Washington's army consisted of only 3,468 men in its entirety while nearly 8,000 Americans alone were in the British army
In fact, nearly 1/3 of Americans opposed the Revolution
At Yorktown, the battle that won the war, the French outnumbered Americans almost 3 to 1 (they were both fighting the British)
Washington only had 11,000 men while the French had almost 30,000 along with nearly 40 ships
Because King George III had vowed to continue fighting even after Yorktown, he ended up writing a letter of abdication when parliament objected to his plan
He then withdrew his letter and consoled himself with the hope that Washington would become a dictator and the colonists would once again desire British rule
George Washington, however, surprised everybody (including King George III) when he stepped down in 1783 with these words to Congress – "Having now finished the work assigned to me…I retire from the great theatre of action"
When King George heard about it he even gasped, "If he does that, sir, he will be the greatest man in the world."
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi LTC (Join to see) LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Jeff S. CPT Jack Durish MSG Dan Walther MSgt Robert C Aldi SFC Stephen King MSgt Danny Hope SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl Craig Marton SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan
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