What Happened Today - December

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December 1, 1776 - Washington tells Congress he  needs more troops.  The British must be stopped at the Raritan River and are moving stores to Philadelphia.

December 2, 1777 - On this night, Lydia Darragh saved George Washington and his men.  While British soldiers were staying at her home, she overheard their plans for a surprise attack.  Pretending she needed to go get flour, she sent word to Lieutenant Colonel Craig the next day. When the British went to attack, they were instead surprised to find General Washington and his troops waiting for him.  She is considered one of the first spies in American history.

December 3, 1776 - On this day, General Washington arrives on the banks of the Delaware River and makes his headquarters in Trenton, New Jersey.  He wrote to Congress "I ordered the removal of all the military and other stores and baggage over the Delaware, a great quantity are already got over, and as soon as the boats come up from Philadelphia, we shall load them, by which means I hope to have everything secured this night and tomorrow if we are not disturbed."

December 4, 1783 - General George Washington meets with victorious Continental Army officers at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan. The war was finally over and Washington had to make an important decision - what would he do with his life now? Would he retire to Mount Vernon or remain an officer in the new country's army.  Rumors were spreading people wanted him to rule the new country, a task he was not ready to take on just yet.  He would need convincing by many powerful men.

December 5, 1776 - General Washington moves the men and supplies, then he writes to Congress that he needs a standing army, not just militia.  Men who are trained to be soldiers, not just men who volunteered to help during the war.

December 6,  1790 - Congress moves from New York to Philadelphia. Another big event which took 75 years to occur - the 13th Amendment was ratified on this day in 1865.  Slavery is finally abolished, something many founding fathers wanted when the Declaration of Independence was first written but opponents advised against or they would not sign it.

December 7, 1787 - Ever wonder why Delaware's licence plates say "First State"?  They were the first state to ratify the Constitution.

December 8, 1775 - Before Benedict Arnold turns traitor, he led an American force with General Montgomery into Quebec, Canada.  The siege lasted several days. At the end of the siege, Arnold is severely wounded and Montgomery is killed.

December 9, 1775 - British control of Virginia ends. Lord Dunmore evacuated the city in June. Lord Dunmore enlisted the assistance of 800 slaves to help his 200 redcoats. Those who left on the ship, Otter, later died of smallpox. The recapture of Virginia was a huge moral boost for the Patriots.

December 10, 1778 - John Jay is elected the president of the Continental Congress.  At first he was opposed to separation from Great Britain and thought we could resolve our differences.  He even resigned from the Continental Congress for a short period and and did not sign the Declaration of Independence.  He was a prominent figure in New York politics and did not always agree with what the country was proposing.  He later served as the first chief justice of the Supreme Court.

December 11, 1777 - General Washington starts toward Valley Forge for the winter when General Cornwallis comes across them by accident. Washington retreats across the Sckuykill River and destroys a bridge to keep them from following him. After a brief skirmish, Cornwallis goes to Philadelphia to enjoy the winter in comfort, while Washington and his troops suffer in Valley Forge. While there, Von Steuben, Lafayette, deKalb, Kosciuszko, and Pulaski help train the men, turning them into a premier regiment.

December 12,1770 - The soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre are acquitted of all charges.

December 13, 1777 - After the Conway Cabal, where General Conway lobbied to have Washington removed as the leader of the Continental Army, Congress established an Inspector General's office in the  Continental Army. Washington's supporters came out against Conway, who later resigned.

December 14, 1775 - American forces occupy Norfolk, Virginia. They get help from Williamsburg and North Carolina.

December 15, 1791 - Virginia ratifies the Bill of Rights which make them law. It gives the 3/4's majority needed. Based on Virginia's Declaration of Rights, these ten amendments give the rights to Americans we are all so familiar with today - freedom of religion, speech, and assembly, as well as many more.

December 16, 1773 - Today the Boston Tea Party.  Not really a party at all, this is the day the colonists in Boston dressed as Indians and climbed onboard British ships, dumping 342 chests of tea into the harbor. Their actions were a result of taxes being placed on tea and their decision not to pay them.

December 17, 1777 - On this day, France formally recognizes the United States as a nation. Benjamin Franklin was in France as our ambassador, but it took a victory against British General Burgoyne for the French to believe we actually had a chance of winning our independence.

December 18, 1779 - A lottery was started to raise money to pay for the war. Tickets were sold in difference classes - 1st class for $10, 2nd class for $20, 3rd class for $30, and fourth class for $40.  The winners would get a treasury note that could be redeemed after 5 years.

December 19, 1776 - Thomas Paine publishes "American Crisis". These words helped inspire the troops to continue on, giving them the morale boost they needed.
These are the times that try men's souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

December 20, 1790 - The first cotton mill is built in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.  Why is this important?  The South built an empire on growing cotton and the North was a center for textiles.  This will be even more important during the Civil War nearly 70 years later. The cotton mill was opened the next day.

December 21, 1775 - British Parliament passed a bill to confiscate American vessels and impress the crew into service. What does this mean? This means that as American vessels were attacked and seized, the goods on board were taken away, the sailors and officers were put into enforced slavery - and put to work on British ships or face being accused of treason and being hung. Many were not even given the option - but merely put to work. Many had to work in chains, for fear of them escaping or causing mutiny in the ships where they were placed.

December 22, 1775 - The Continental Congress creates the first navy and puts Esek Hopkins in charge. The navy consists of 7 vessels.  Admiral Hopkins receives his first orders but instead of heading to the Chesapeake Bay, he heads to the Caribbean and attacks a British held supply spot. They confiscated the much needed supplies.  Unfortunately because he did not follow his orders, he was sanctioned for his decision (even though he secured some much needed supplies).

December 23, 1783 - George Washington resigns his post as commander in chief of the Continental Army. "Happy in the affirmation of our independence and sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted."

December 24, 1776 - The New England states (not colonies any longer) were told of the imminent threat from the British General Carlton. More than 4500 militia are needed.

December 25, 1776 - George Washington crosses the Delaware with 2400 troops in hopes of attacking the Hessians in Trenton, New Jersey.  They surprise the Hessians and take 900 of them captive. General Cornwallis, the British commander tries to come after Washington, but in the middle of the night, he marches right past them and wins at Princeton.  These victories help boost morale of the soldiers and the spirits of patriots across the colonies.

December 26, 1775 - Being in a war is expensive, which is one of the reasons the Revolutionary War began in the first place (King George needed help paying for his wars).  This time, the Continental Congress needed more funds. In order to raise 3 million dollars, the colonies had to raise taxes to redeem the bills of credit.  For the colonists this was not a problem - they were gaining their freedom and the right to rule themselves as they saw fit.

December 27, 1780 - Hammonds Store was an outpost in South Carolina and had only been settled for about 30 years. During that time much violence occurred and it was hard to govern by the colony being so far away from the rest of the people in the east. Over 250 British soldiers under Colonel Thomas Waters were terrorizing the Patriots who lived there.  Colonel William Washington, George Washington's cousin, was sent to take care of the situation.  Over 150 British were killed or wounded and 40 were taken as prisoners.  The store was then burned. No Patriots were lost during the battle.

December 28, 1781 - The British post troops on John's Island in South Carolina. This is three months after the surrender at Yorktown and yet the British still do not leave. The island can only be reached once or twice a month by crossing the Wapoo River. The patriots missed their chance because Major James Hamilton does not reach Lieutenant Colonel Light Horse Harry Lee in time to assist him.

December 29, 1607 - Chief Powhatan spares the life of John Smith. While some historians have sought to prove Pocahantas did not throw herself over John Smith to save him, there seems to be rising evidence that John Smith's accounts were indeed accurate. The romanticized version states she did it because she loved him, but many believe it was really just a way of accepting him as a member of the tribe. Whatever the real reason, on this day Chief Powhatan spared his life and the settlement at Jamestown was able to survive at the same time.

December 30, 1775 - recruitment officers are given permission to discuss enlistment with African Americans who want to join.

December 31, 1775 - The Patriots are defeated in Quebec. Colonel Benedict Arnold and General Montgomery attack Quebec in the middle of a blizzard. The British are ready for the attack and Montgomery is killed and his men are forced to retreat.  Even Arnold is wounded in the exchange. He is forced to kill his horse and retreat in a canoe.  Five years later, Arnold will become a traitor and begin working for the British.

Now if you want to know what happens next, click on January 

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