What Happened Today - March

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I have found my information for these pages from the following sites and applications:

• Today in the 1770s
• Today in History 
• Today in History - A timeline of events 
• This Day in History 
• On-This-Day.com  
• Library of Congress 
• National Park Service 

March 1, 1781 - The Articles of Confederation were finally ratified by the 13 original colonies.  Ir took over 16 months for the states to agree on the different articles. Virginia and Maryland argued for over 4 years over land rights before they ratified the Articles of Confederation. We finally have our official laws in place.

March 2, 1807 - Slaves are not allowed to be imported into the United States. No where in the US are slaves allowed to be sold, from any foreign kingdom, place, or country.  This happened during Thomas Jefferson's presidency.

March 3, 1776 - Silas Deane leaves on a secret mission to France in hopes of getting the country to support the colonies in their fight against Great Britain.  Deane does get some assistance, but he also manages to convince the Marquis de Lafayette to come and assist the colonists.

March 4, 1681 - Charles II gives a land grant to William Penn.  This land becomes what we know today as Pennsylvania.

March 5, 1770  - British troops fire upon colonists in the Boston Massacre.  This is considered one of the events that led to the Revolutionary War.

March 6, 1776 - Sandy Hook lighthouse is ordered dismantled by the New York Provincial Congress.  They do not want it be captured by the British and used to help the British sail their ships into the country and reaching New York City.

March 7, 1774 - The British have closed the port of Boston.

March 8, 1817 - The New York Stock Exchange starts.  It actually started in 1792 by a group of brokers and merchants who gathered at Wall Street.  They signed the Buttonwood Agreement after the Buttonwood tree where they met.  The official name was changed to the NYSE in 1863.  The men agreed to trade securities on a commission basis.

March 9, 1793 - Congress prohibits the military from forcing people to give oaths of loyalty. Forced loyalty would not keep the colonists loyal.

March 10, 1776 - Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense. This is the first written work which asks for freedom from Great Britain. For the words of the document go to www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/

March 11, 1779 - Congress creates the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Civilians and French and American soldiers worked to design and build structures for the army.  They mostly created military fortifications. Without them, the battles of Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown might not have been won.

March 12, 1664 - On this day King Charles II gives the land called New Jersey to his brother, James, who is the Duke of York.  This land then becomes the newest British colony. The land originally belonged to the Dutch but it was taken over by Colonel Richard Nicholls who sailed into New York Harbor and took over Fort Amsterdam.  During the English Civil War, the Isle of Jersey remained loyal to King Charles I.  His son, gave the land to his brother who then divided the land between two friends - Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley of Stratton.

March 13, 1776 - France officially recognizes the United States as a country.

March 14, 1793 - While not necessarily contributing to the American Revolution - the cotton gin is one of the most important inventions of its time.  Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin on this day.  The cotton gin was a machine that separated the cottonseed from the cotton fiber. Before the cotton gin, hundreds of man hours were needed to make one bushel of cotton.  Now, fifty pounds of cotton could be made in one day.

March 15, 1781 - The British beat the Patriots at Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina. General Nathaniel Greene wears down the British army under Cornwallis, but does not succeed. Cornwallis had only 1900 troops against 4400 patriot troops.

March 16, 1751 - I think it's pretty fascinating that on this day James Madison - the Father of the Constitution was born.  Just think - when we declared our independence in 1776, he was only 15 years old.  He graduated from the College of New Jersey in only 2 years at the age of 18. He helped draft the Constitution, he was a recorder at the Constitutional Convention, and he was the author of the Federalist Papers.  Lastly, he was our 4th President of the United States.  It was his wife, Dolley, who saved the portrait of George Washington when the British arrived in Washington and burned the White House.

March 17, 1776 - On this date - British forces evacuate Boston.  They flee to Canada.  The Continental Army with the assistance of Colonel Knox, who is Washington's chief of artillery, move the heavy guns to just outside of Boston.  British General Howe realizes he cannot hold Boston and leaves.

March 18, 1766 - The Stamp Act is repealed by British Parliament.  Unfortunately, the same day, Parliament passed the Declaratory Acts that said the British government had complete control over the colonies - both legislative and free. Basically, Britain was telling the colonies they had no real say. It was like a slap in the face of freedom.

March 19, 1779 - On this day, Empress Catherine the Great of Russia recognizes the United States of America as a sovereign country.  Unfortunately, she may recognize them, but she refuses to become involved in the War of Independence.

March 20, 1778 - France finally accepts visitors from the new country - the United States.  King Louis XVI meets with Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee.  He sent secret aid to the colonies, not quite ready to declare full out support.  That would come later when France felt the US had a chance of actually winning.

March 21, 1778 - British forces massacre innocent people at Quintin's Bridge in New Jersey.  The Continental Army is surprised but even when they surrender, they are killed as the British yell "No Quarter!".

March 22, 1622 - The Native Americans in the area attack the new settlers along the James River in Virginia.  Around 350 settlers are killed.  Also on this day - the first act that incites American colonists - the STAMP ACT is passed by the British government (it's repealed a year later after much protest and outrage).

March 23, 1775 - Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!!!  This is the day Patrick Henry is supposed to have given this famous speech before the Virginia  Provincial Convention.  "Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace - but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps  from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? 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!"

March 24, 1765 - Britain passes the Quartering Act.  This means colonists have to house more than 10,000 British troops while they are in the colonies in public and private buildings. The colonists also had to provide for any basic needs the troops might need while guarding the borders. This was a win-win situation for Britain because they did not have to pay for the troops upkeep, passing all of these costs on to the colonists.

March 25, 1634 - The first colonists arrived in what becomes Maryland. King Charles I gave the land to Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Lord Baltimore.  The land was named after his wife - Henrietta Maria.  Lord Baltimore had complete control over the land in return for paying the king in gold.  Maryland was a safe haven for Catholics who were being persecuted.

March 26, 1776 - South Carolina approves the new constitution.  They rename their legislature - the General Assembly of South Carolina and elect John Rutledge as president. It was not until 1778 that Rutledge resigned and Rawlins Lowndes took over and instead of it being a presidency, the position became that of a governor.  Strangely enough, Rutledge was re-elected as governor in 1779.

March 27, 1775 - Thomas Jefferson is elected to become president of the Second Continental Congress.  As president, he publishes several papers - one called "Summary View of the Rights of British America".  He also writes - "Drafts and Notes on the Virginia Constitution".  These papers help formulate what will help become the Declaration of Independence.  It is his articulation in describing what the colonists want that single him out to become the most important author of the Declaration.  He was only 33 years old at the time.

March 28, 1774 - The Coercive Acts were passed against the colonies. They were also known as the Intolerable Acts.  Taxes were passed against the colonies in response to the French-Indian War, but of course no one asked the colonies if they minded.  The colonies retaliated with the Boston Tea Party and then Britain passed the Coercive Acts to make the colonies remember who was really the boss - King George III of England.  We all know how well that worked for the king.

March 29, 1776 - General George Washington appoints Major General George Putnam commander of the New York troops.  He is to make sure all plans are executed while defending the city and its waterways.

March 30, 1775 - On this day, Britain thought it would toss one more insult to the colonies.  King George III insisted the colonies only trade with Great Britain with the New England Restraining Act.  He also denied them fisheries in the North Atlantic.

March 31, 1775 - John Adams receives a letter from his wife, Abigail stating the women are prepared to show their support by rebelling if the Declaration of Independence does not work.  Once more, Abigail Adams shows how a formidable wife can help a man become even stronger - and eventually become president.