What Happened Today - February

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February 1, 1633 - Tobacco had become a huge crop for Virginia. On this date, tobacco production was limited so the colony would not become solely dependent on one crop.  Of course, the ground needed to be rested after tobacco was grown on it or it became useless.  This allowed the fields to be rotated and not lose the nutrients.

Tobacco plant in Virginia

February 2, 1781 - On this day, General Nathanael Greene gets monetary assistance from an unexpected place.  While recuperating from battle fatigue, the proprietor of Steele's Tavern handed him enough money to supply his army for a small period of time.  Also while there, his militia discovered a cache of guns and rifles to use in battle.

February 3, 1690 - General Greene is able to cross the Yadkin River with the help of Thaddeus Kosciusko's strategy of flat bottom boats. The boats were loaded on wagons to be used between river crossings. The boats were waiting for Greene's men. They were able to cross the river, even as Cornwallis was closing in on them. He bombed Greene's men but was unable to follow them as the river began to rise. By the time the water lowered, Greene's men had made it to safety.


February 4, 1789 - George Washington is the first AND only president to be unanimously voted to become president by the Electoral College, the delegates elected to vote for the people in an election.  On this same date in 1792, he was unanimously, everyone voted for him to be president for a second term as well.

February 5, 1631 - Roger William arrived in Boston, Massachusetts.  He argues for separation of church and state which is contrary to what the Pilgrims believe.  He is banished from Massachusetts and heads to Providence where he starts his own settlement in 1636.  It becomes a haven for religious dissidents.  He receives a patent for his colony which is called the Colony of Providence Plantations, later known as Rhode Island.  He writes a famous work called "The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution".

February 6, 1778 - The Franco-American Alliance - "The two contracting parties shall each on its own part, and in the manner it may judge most proper, make all the efforts in its power, against their common enemy, in order to attain the end proposed."  France and America sign the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and of Alliance between France and the United States.  France recognizes the United States of America as a nation. They agree to trade between each other.

February 7, 1775 - Benjamin Franklin's Imaginary Speech is published.  It defends the American spirit after comments to Parliament that the colonials are unequal to the British.  Franklin's essay claims colonists helped save the British soldiers during the Seven Years War, that their religion helped overthrow King Charles I and that colonial men are more devoted to women as their population continues to grow while Britain's declines.

February 8, 1693 - the College of William and Mary was founded in Williamsburg, VA by King William  III and Queen Mary II of England.  It is the second oldest college in the United States and was the first one to offer training in law.  Thomas Jefferson attended college here, as did many more of men who helped shape our country during the Revolutionary War.

February 9, 1776 - More than 200 British troops arrived in New York.  General Lee asks the Continental Congress to send troops from Philadelphia.  The city needs protection and without the extra battalions, Colonel Lee fears the city will fall.

February 10, 1763 - The Treaty of Paris (there were several of these).  This one ended the French-Indian War.  France gave up all territories in North America except for New Orleans and a few islands.  They wanted to maintain control of the Mississippi River and could only do that through New Orleans which was named for the Duke of Orleans.


February 11, 1752 - With the help of Benjamin Franklin, the Pennsylvania Hospital opens.  It is the first hospital in America.

February 12, 1789 - I used to think Ethan Allen was just a furniture store, but he was a hero of the Revolutionary War.  He helped capture Fort Ticonderoga with Benedict Arnold (before Arnold became a traitor).  He died on this date.

February 13, 1776 - Patrick Henry is elected the colonel of the Virginia battalion.  The Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore tries to take the gunpowder from the Magazine in Williamsburg and Patrick Henry has the patriot militia take hold of it.  There is a stand off between the two (Gunpowder Incident) and a settlement is made.  Patrick Henry later become governor of Virginia from 1776-1779 and then again in 1784-1786.


February 14, 1779 - Colonel Andrew Pickens and the Patriots defeat the British Loyalists under Colonel James Boyd at Kettle Creek in Georgia.  When Boyd is shot, the soldiers scatter in chaos.  The British were surrounded.  The British lost 70 men and 70 more were captured.  Only 9 Patriots were killed and 23 were wounded.

February 15, 1799 - Since we are on the verge of a new presidential election, I thought this event of particular interest.  Printed ballots were used for the first time in Pennsylvania for an election. (Makes you wonder how the men voted before this).

February 16, 1776 - The decision is made to open ports to foreign trade.  This would only be possible if the new country, United States, signed treaties with these other countries. The hope was that American trade would be protected

February 17, 1801 - The electoral college was tied. Who would be President? Jefferson or Aaron Burr? Thomas Jefferson was chosen by the House of Representatives in one of the most contested battles in US history.  They had to vote over 30 times. It caused a change in the US Constitution.

February 18, 1688 - The Quakers in Pennsylvania adopt the first formal antislavery resolution in America.  Remember that when George Washington was president and lived in Philadelphia? There was a law which stated that if a slave resided in the state for more than six months, they would be considered free.  The Quakers were against slavery and Pennsylvania became one of the places runaway slaves came when seeking freedom.

February 19, 1777 - Benedict Arnold is overlooked for a promotion to Major General.  Even though George Washington assured Arnold his time would come, Arnold's feelings festered and led to his decision to become a traitor and hand over information about the fortifications of West Point.

February 20, 1792 - The US Postal Service is turned into a cabinet department by George Washington.  Originally started by Benjamin Franklin in 1775 who became the first Postmaster General.  Previously, Franklin was the postmaster of Philadelphia.  He helped create specific routes traveling from Philadelphia to Maine and from Philadelphia to Florida.


February 21, 1775 - The colonists in Massachusetts vote to purchase military equipment as threats from Great Britain increase.  They need supplies for more than 15,000 men.

February 22, 1732 - Our first president - George Washington was born on this day in Westmoreland County, Virginia.  Strangely enough, he was actually born on February 11 according to the Julian calendar, but when the Gregorian  calendar was adopted, the official date was moved to February 22.

George Washington


February 23, 1778 - Baron von Steuben joins the Continental Army.  He helps train the troops at Valley Forge during that dreadful winter. He taught them maneuvers until they could go against the British and win.
Baron von Steuben

February 24, 1803 - An important day for the United States - on this day the case Marbury vs. Madison -  determined the Supreme Court could determine if a legislation was unconstitutional or not. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall felt the power of Congress should be limited.  In this case in particular - the Supreme Court ruled the president (Thomas Jefferson) could not prevent William Marbury from taking justice of the peace in Washington County in DC.


February 25, 1779 - Most of us are familiar with William Clark, the explorer who traveled across the country to the Pacific Ocean.  This day in history is important for his brother - Lieutenant Colonel George Clark.  It was on this day that he accepted the unconditional surrender of Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton at Fort Sackville in Indiana.

February 26, 1776  - The British vessels are watched carefully and some are detained in order to discover what the plans are concerning the war. Any information discovered is shared with the French.

February 27, 1776 - The British lose their hold over North Carolina when the Patriots beat them at the Battles of Moores Creek.  This is considered the first organized campaign of the Revolutionary War.

February 28, 1776 - Washington prepares to occupy Dorchester Heights.

February 29 - So, this is the last day of February and a Leap Year.  I did check out information for this day, but sadly, nothing truly occurred during the Revolutionary War.  I thought maybe information about Leap Year would be interesting - in 45 BC, Julius Caesar's astronomer, Sosigenes calculated this special day to happen in years divisible by 4.  The day was created to keep festivals around the same season every year.

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