What Happened Today - November

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November 1, 1765 - The Stamp Act goes into effect in the colonies.  It is the beginning of the end of the British colonies in America!

November 2, 1779 - imports from Holland make it through the blockades delivering goods to the new states while battles still rage.  Also on this day in 1777 - John Paul Jones, one of the most fearless American naval officers sets sail to battle with British ships across the ocean.  His goal is to stop the ships before they reach the colonies.

November 3, 1776 - The Declaration of Rights is passed.  Considered the final draft of the constitution, it was used to help the young country delineate the first official rules to govern.

November 4, 1775 - Williamsburg learns the news of Peyton Randolph's death from apoplexy.  The president of the First and Second Continental Congresses, he was a powerful man who helped the fledgling country find its legs.  He actually died on October 22, but as with most things during colonial times, it took time for word to travel from Philadelphia to Virginia.

November 5, 1768 - A treaty is signed with the Iroquois nation for the land between the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers.  This allows the colonies to move further west, claiming more land and creating settlements that will enable families to create a future for themselves.  This spirit of owning land and being responsible to no one but themselves is what is at the base of the theory of freedom.  Without these opportunities, the colonists would not have desired their freedom so fervently from England.

November 6, 1777 - a British ship runs aground and is captured by American forces.

November 7, 1775 - Dunmore's Proclamation is filed and announced in the Virginia Gazette - declaring anyone who does not join with the king and bear arms for the king is a traitor.  It also calls all indentured servants and slaves to join his majesty's army and offers them freedom if they do.  As you can imagine, this proclamation did not sit well with the citizens of Virginia as martial law is called into effect and the people become prisoners in their own country.

November 8, 1775 - George Washington writes about the poor condition of his troops.  His main complaint was the unprofessional way they handled themselves.

November 9, 1731 - Benjamin Banneker was born in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland.  A self-taught African American, he successfully predicted a solar eclipse in 1789.  He impressed Thomas Jefferson so much, he was asked to help survey Washington, DC.  He wrote almanacs and even sent one to Jefferson.  He made a clock entirely out of wood that kept precise time for decades.

November 10, 1775 - The Continental Congress started the US Marines on this day during the American Revolution.  Even though it was disbanded in 1783 at the end of the war, it was re-established in 1798.  But ask a Marine and he or she will tell you the official date is today!  SO HUZZAH!!!! HUZZAH!!!! to the US Marine Corps and all the branches of government on this day before Veteran's Day!  Without you, we wouldn't be a country at all!!!!

November 11, 1620 - The Mayflower Compact was signed.  Forty-one men who traveled over the ocean to find a new life started this life with a document that called for "just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience."  Even back then they had no real love for the "dread" King James.

November 12, 1776 - delegates are chosen for the Fifth Provincial Congress.  North Carolina has chosen 8 to help draw up the Bill of Rights.  Abigail Adams writes her husband that time has come to separate from England when the Olive Branch Petition is rejected.  Smart woman.

November 13, 1775 - The Patriots capture Montreal. They soon realize that fighting in Canada is not worth the effort and they have to fight in the colonies if they hope to be successful.

November 14, 1775- King George tells Lord North that he has contracted for 4,000 German troops to help the British in their fight with the colonists.  (remember those Hessians?)

November 15, 1777 - The Articles of Confederation are adopted by the Second Continental Congress. The Articles of Confederation is the document which legally establishes the United States of America as a union of states.  This was first used as its constitution. It also allows for the states to retain their own power over certain functions except for ones given to the new national government.

November 16, 1776 - Fort Washington is seized by Hessian Lt. General Knyphausen.  He was able to be successful because of a deserter, William Demot who told him about Fort Washington's defenses.  Important fact: Margaret Corbin fought beside her husband and when he died, she took over his cannon - cleaning and loading it.  She was wounded and lost her left arm.  She is the first woman known to have fought for the Continental Army.

November 17, 1800 - Congress meets for the first time.  Congress is a bicameral (two-chamber) legislature.  It consists of the House of Representatives (435 members) and the Senate (100 members - 2 from each state).  Both bodies have equal power.

November 18, 1775 - Lord Germain tells General Howe 20,000 more troops will be sent to help with the campaign against the patriots.

November 19, 1620 - The Pilgrims reach Cape Cod.

November 20, 1789 - New Jersey is the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights includes:

  • freedom of religion, speech and assembly
  • right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of a well-regulated militia
  • no forcible quartering of soldiers during peacetime
  • freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
  • right to a grand jury for capital crimes and due process; protection from double jeopardy; self-incrimination; and public confiscation of private property without just compensation.
  • right to "speedy and public" trial by jury and a competent defense
  • right to trial by jury for monetary cases above $20
  • protection against "excessive" bail or fines and "cruel and unusual" punishment
  • rights not enumerated are "retained by the people"
  • rights not given to the federal government or prohibited the state governments by the Constitution
November 21, 1789 - North Carolina ratifies the US Constitution. They were opposed to a strong federal government, but once the Bill of Rights was written and it contained many of the changes they wanted, they ratified it and became the 12th US state.

November 22, 1777 - Congress asks the states to send payments to support the war effort. This is the first time, Congress has asked for such support in paper money.

November 23, 1776 - General Washington asks Congress for more troops.  The enlistment of 2600 troops will end in weeks and then another 2000 will end a month later. This will cut his current numbers in half and leave him vulnerable to the British.

November 24, 1776 - A ship heading to England is captured by the Independence. It had 20,000 dollars, 2 1/2 tons of ivory and 100 bars of iron.  For the Americans, this is a huge success. The iron can be used to make munitions.

November 25, 1783 - The last British troops leave American soil.  Three months after the Treaty of Paris was signed, British soldiers leave New York. As they leave, General George Washington enters the city to cheers from everyone. Four months later, New York is made temporary capital of the new country.

November 26, 1776 - Peyton Randolph is laid to rest at the College of William and Mary.  He died in October 1775 while in Philadelphia, presiding over the Continental Congress. He was originally buried at Christ Church in Philadelphia.

November 27, 1779 - The College of Pennsylvania becomes the University of Pennsylvania. It is the first legally recognized university in America. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in the 1740s. At the time, only Harvard, William and Mary, and Yale existed, but those were for theologians.  The College of Pennsylvania was designed to teach practical skills for making a living.

November 28, 1775 - Congress establishes the navy.

November 29, 1775 - The 2nd Continental Congress establishes the Committee of Secret Correspondence.  They provide European nations with the Patriot's view of events happening.  The members of the committee include - Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Harrison, John Dickinson, John Hay, and Robert Morris.

November 30, 1776 - Admiral Howe and General Howe are sent by King George to pardon anyone who stops their treasonous acts against the Crown.

Now, to see what happens next - click on December 

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