What Happened Today - July


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Welcome to July!!  This month is going to be filled with pivotal events in American colonial history.  How could it not be with the 4th of July so close?

Mrs. Hoffman


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July 1, 1776 - George Washington writes to Congress that the British fleet has arrived in New York.  At this same time, Patrick Henry (Give me liberty or give me death) is elected governor of Virginia.  Jefferson anxiously awaits for approval of his Declaration of Independence.

July 2, 1776 - John Adams thought today would be the day that would go down in history as a day we would always remember.  Twelve of the 13 colonies voted yes to declare their freedom.  Only New York abstained on that day.  The Declaration would go back to Jefferson for a few more revisions.

July 3, 1775 - George Washington took charge of the Continental Army today.  The army is in Massachusetts.  While he wanted to be home on his plantation, he accepted command of the army, knowing what a difficult challenge it was going to be.

July 4, 1776 - The Declaration of Independence is signed by all representatives!!!  The Second Continental Congress adopts the declaration written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the United States to be free and independent of Great Britain.

July 5, 1777 - Fort Ticonderoga falls.  American Brigadier General St. Clair cannot hold it against the British and is forced to evacuate, leaving behind supplies.  The next day, the British occupy the fort.

July 6, 1779 - The British started raiding the Connecticut coast on the 5th.  The troops are lead by the former governor of New York - General William Tryon.

July 7, 1777 - German General von Riedesel (a Hessian) and British General Fraser defeat the Patriots at Hubbardton, Vermont.  General St. Clair for the Patriots manages to escape.  The very next day, Vermont will adopt a written constitution - giving suffrage to all men and abolishing slavery in the new state (which was once New Connecticut).

July 8, 1778 - General Washington sets up headquarters at West Point in New York because of its high vantage point over all the area around.  Thaddeus Kosciusko creates the fortifications.

July 9, 1777 - New York elects its first governor - not one assigned by King George. The new governor is Brigadier General George Clinton.  He is governor from 1777-1795.  He is elected again in 1801-1804.  Later he becomes the vice president for Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.  He is longest running governor in New York's history.

July 10, 1778 - King Louis XVI declares war on England in support of the colonies.  This is a major hurdle the new country needed to overcome.  Having the French finally join them, helped the patriots show the British that the United States was a viable country that could gain assistance from a powerful country like France.

July 11, 1782 - The British governor - Sir James Wright evacuates Georgia and flees to Charleston.  For most of the war, Georgia was in Loyalist hands.  Now, almost a year after the surrender at Yorktown, the British finally leave Georgia.

July 12, 1775 - The Patriots manage to take Fort Charlotte.  Lord Dunmore residence is also taken.

July 13, 1787 - The Northwest Ordinance is passed by the Second Continental Congress, which decides what will happen to the northwest territories. The territory was to be divided into  no less than 3 states and no more than 5.  Next, there was a three-stage process designed for admitting states into the new union.  Finally, the Northwest Ordinance called for a Bill of Rights.

July 14, 1775 - the Lord Mayor of London, John Wilkes, asks King George to reconcile with the  colonists.  He sees the conflict as only hurting Great Britain.  His recommendations fall on deaf ears.

July 15, 1776 - As Lord Dunmore's ships travel up the Potomac River, Maryland's Council of Safety send out an alarm.  Two of his ships are infected with smallpox.  The Council requests assistance.

July 16, 1790 - The site for Washington, DC is chosen by our very first president himself - George Washington.  He chooses a site across the Potomac River from his own home.  He never actually gets to reside in the White House, but he is instrumental in the planning of the future capital.

July 17, 1781 - General Sumter (Fort Sumter is named after him) leads troops at Quinby's Ridge in South Carolina. Henry Lee, Frances Marion (aka the Swamp Fox), and Thomas Taylor joined him.  The Patriots are forced to retreat.

July 18, 1775 - The Continental Congress sends word to all the colonies to begin recruiting and building a militia. With the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Congress knows England will be upset and send their troops over to quell the rebellion.  They need to be prepared.

July 19, 1776 - The Continental Congress publishes several gazettes across our new country and sends word to the last British governors that they should give up any hope of taking back the land.  The country does not belong to Great Britain any longer but to the United States of America.

July 20, 1780 - General "Mad Anthony" Wayne loses against the British in Hoboken, Jew Jersey.  Seventy Loyalists held out against two brigades of Pennsylvania militia.

July 21, 1775 - Major Voss takes whaleboats with minutemen to the Brewster Island in Boston Harbor.  He manages to take control, killing and wounding the British who were stationed there.

July 22, 1775 - Washington's army is separated into three divisions.  He names Charles Lee, Artemis Ward, and Isreal Putnam in charge of his divisions.

July 23, 1775 - Whenever you see soldiers from the Revolutionary War, you see them wearing different decorations on their hats.  Did you know the decorations showed the soldier's rank?  On this day, orders for cockades (the decorations on the hats) were made and it was written down what they signified.  Pink or red was for a field rank.  Yellow or buff (that's beige) was for captains.  Green was for subalterns (soldiers in subordinate ranks - a junior officer).  And finally - red cloth on the shoulders was for sergeants.



July 24, 1775 - In support of the Patriot cause, the Virginia Convention ordered the people of Virginia to stop exporting flour, wheat, and other provisions to Britain.  Those supplies become valuable commodities as British ships attempt to blockade the colonies in the coming months and years.


July 25, 1780 - General Gates takes control of the southern army in North Carolina.  His reputation is destroyed with his loss at Camden, South Carolina against Cornwallis on August 16th.

July 26, 1775 - Benjamin Franklin starts the United States Post Office and becomes the first Postmaster General.  True there were other postal services which delivered mail, but this was the first one named with United States!!!

July 27, 1777 - The Marquis de Lafayette arrives in New England to help the patriots fight the British.  Remember, he landed in the south first and traveled north to meet up with patriot leaders and convince them of his seriousness in helping.

July 28, 1775 - the Continental Congress orders Robert Morris to head to Spain or Holland for much needed medical supplies for the army.

July 29, 1778 - The French fleet under the direction of Vice Admiral d'Estaing meets the Continental Army as they hope to take Rhode Island.  The French were not successful and headed to the West Indies to reorganize.

July 30, 1780 - Fort Anderson is taken by only 600 Patriots and Colonel Shelby.  Hardly any bloodshed occurs during this battle.

July 31, 1790 - Thomas Jefferson signed the very first patent.  It was given to Samuel Hopkins of Vermont.  He made potash and pearl ash out of wood ash.

To see what happens in August, click here.

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