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Our Lives, Our Fortunes and Our Sacred Honor

Page 59

by Richard R. Beeman


  Jefferson, Jane Randolph, 245

  Jefferson, Peter, 245

  Jefferson, Thomas, 5, 8, 198, 242, 253, 256, 260, 281, 352, 354

  account of signing of Declaration of Independence, 413

  arrival in Philadelphia, 247

  background, 245–246

  Boston boycott, resolution in support of, 39

  committee assignments, 392–393

  on George III, 273

  House of Burgesses, election to, 246

  John Dickinson, collaboration with, 249–250

  letter to German mercenaries, 386

  at Monticello, 384, 386

  on Patrick Henry, 96

  proposed resolutions, 89–91

  reaction to changes to Declaration of Independence, 413

  “Refutation of the Argument that the Colonies Were Established at the Expense of the British Nation,” 384

  response to Lord North’s proposal, 257

  A Summary View of the Rights of British America, 313

  Virginia constitution, creation of drafts, 387

  Virginia Constitution and Declaration of Rights, involvement in, 396

  Jesse (Jefferson’s slave), 247

  Johnson, Thomas, 138, 139, 166, 224, 231, 242, 251, 339

  Johnson, William, 94

  Jupiter (Jefferson’s slave), 247

  King of Prussia (ship), 306

  Kinsey, James, 56

  Lambert, Mary, 307

  Langdon, John, 267, 283, 321

  Larkin, John, 193

  Laws of nature, 118, 313–314

  Lee, Arthur, 21, 176, 203, 276, 277

  Lee, Billy (Washington’s slave), 50, 227

  Lee, Charles, 151, 229, 231, 234, 237

  Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 260, 301

  Lee, Richard Henry, 5, 39, 40, 50, 58, 90, 101, 109, 138, 142, 159, 163, 165, 172, 224, 248, 253, 257–258, 260, 284, 337, 345

  anti-Catholic bias, 153

  on changes to Declaration of Independence draft, 413

  colonial agents in London, letter to, 168

  King George III, draft of address to, 166–167

  on natural rights, 117

  non-importation, introduction of motion for, 119

  on raising an army, 201

  reaction to Plan of Union, 130

  resolutions for independence, introduction of, 351

  on single colonial militia, 139–140

  suggestion of evacuation of Boston, 145–146

  Leonard, Daniel, 21

  “A Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend” (John Adams), 322

  Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (Dickinson), 35, 74–75, 150

  Lewis, Francis, 184, 198

  Lexington, Massachusetts, 175, 192

  Liberty (ship), 71

  The Library Company of Philadelphia, 54

  Lind, John, 399

  Livermore, Samuel, 282–283

  Livingston, Philip, 56, 57, 58, 60, 159

  Livingston, Robert R., 129, 184, 198, 201, 248–249, 352, 354, 365, 390

  Livingston, William, 56, 57, 58, 59, 97, 159, 163, 242, 248–249

  Locke, John, 69, 246, 394, 396, 398

  Low, Isaac, 56, 138, 139, 140, 142, 143, 151, 161, 184, 329

  Loyal Nine, 18

  Lydia (ship), 213

  Lynch, Thomas, 44–45, 47, 58, 60, 99, 120, 142, 265, 266, 286, 302, 377

  impression of New England delegates, 169–170

  on non-exportation, 154–155

  Madison, James, 7, 392

  Maier, Pauline, 413

  Mansfield, 1st Earl of (William Murray), 166

  Marshall, Christopher, 188

  Martin, Josiah, 182, 189

  Maryland

  opposition to independence, 294, 354, 363

  slavery in, 158

  support for boycott of British trade, 38

  vote for independence, 369

  Maryland Convention, refusal to form new government, 363

  Mason, George, 39

  Fairfax County, Virginia, resolutions, draft, 156

  friendship with George Washington, 45–46

  on slave trade, 158

  Virginia Constitution and Declaration of Rights, role in, 387, 396

  Massachusetts

  Battle of Bunker Hill, 239–241, 274

  British attack on Lexington and Concord, 192–193

  committees of correspondence, formation of, 22

  committees of safety, 222, 239

  county conventions, drafting of resolves by, 111–112, 114

  delay in endorsing independence, 357–359

  delegation to first congress, 42–43, 47–49, 100

  delegation to second congress, 175, 193–194

  formation of new government, 224–225

  General Gage, appointment of as governor, 28

  increase of British troops in Boston, 144

  instructions to delegates of first congress, 88

  Massachusetts Government Act (1774), 28, 111

  petition for removal of Governor Hutchinson, 26

  Powder Alarm, 105, 107–108

  request for continental army, 224

  Massachusetts Gazette, 12, 254

  McDougall, Alexander, 33, 129, 364, 365

  McIntosh, Ebenezer, 19

  McKean, Thomas, 48, 57, 60, 153, 348, 362, 375, 376, 377

  Meacham, Jon, 410

  Mercer, Hugh, 32

  Middlesex County Resolutions, 111–112

  Middleton, Arthur, 377

  Middleton, Henry, 44, 46, 57, 154–155, 159, 169

  Mifflin, Thomas, 35–38, 48, 57, 58, 110, 119, 138, 148, 151, 190, 237

  Militias, raising of, 223

  Moland, John, 75

  Molasses Act (1764), 212

  See also Sugar Act

  Montgomery, Richard, 297–299

  Monticello, 384, 385, 386, 413

  Montreal, Canada, capture of, 298

  Moore’s Creek, North Carolina, battle at, 334

  Morgan, Daniel, 299

  Morris, Gouverneur, 7, 33–34

  Morris, Lewis, 184, 198

  Morris, Robert, 2, 198, 333, 339, 347, 354, 375, 378–380, 416, 437n3

  Morton, John, 57, 59, 60, 375, 378

  Mount Vernon, 45–46, 156, 232

  Murray, John. See Dunmore, 4th Earl of

  Nassau, Bahamas, naval battle at, 334

  Nelson, Thomas, 260, 386

  New England, slavery in, 158

  New Hampshire

  destruction of Fort William and Mary, 282

  formation of committees of correspondence, 22

  raising of militia, 223

  request to form new government, 283–284

  support for independence by, 359

  New Jersey

  olive branch petition for King George III, 287–288

  opposition to independence, 287, 294

  organization of new government, 362

  slavery in, 158

  vote for independence, 374

  New York

  on boycott of British trade, 33–34

  British troops in, 365, 418

  call for general congress, 39

  changing attitudes towards independence, 294, 364, 366–367

  Committee of Fifty-One, 33–34

  delegation to first congress, 99

  delegation to second congress, 198

  failure to endorse first Congress’ proceedings, 182

  formation of committees of correspondence, 22

  military support from, 226

  petition to King George III, 183–184

  prohibition on voting, 370

  provincial assembly, hostility, 183

  Provincial Convention, 184

  slavery in, 158

  vote for independence, 415

  Newspapers, role of in promoting independence, 328

  Nicholas, Robert Carter, 93, 357

  Nixon, John, 417

  Non-exportation, 119, 120–122, 125, 138, 143–144, 154–155, 157


  Non-importation, 99, 114, 119–120, 125, 128, 129, 132, 136, 143, 155, 156, 157

  Norfolk, Virginia, naval attack on, 297

  Norris, Isaac, 75

  North, Lord (Frederick, 2nd Earl of Guilford), 25, 27, 28, 276

  Bunker Hill, reaction to defeat at, 274

  continued hope for reconciliation, 278, 301

  creation of “peace commission,” 331

  as king’s chief minister, 166, 178

  Peace Plan, 178, 256–257

  North Carolina

  battle at Moore’s Creek, 334

  commitment to independence, 355

  dissolution of legislature, 182

  slavery in, 158

  Nowell, Samuel, 12

  Obama, Barack, 9

  Old South Meeting House, 23

  Olive Branch Petition

  debate on, 252

  Dickinson’s drafting, 251

  John Adams reaction to, 250–251, 253

  King George’s reaction to, 276–277, 280

  Oliver, Andrew, 19, 217

  Oliver, Peter, 15

  Ollive, Samuel, 307

  Otis, James, Jr., 66, 67

  Paca, William, 58, 151

  Pain, Elizabeth Ollive, 307

  Pain, Frances, 306

  Paine, Robert Treat, 42, 151, 175, 193, 231, 358

  Paine, Thomas, 6, 118, 244, 304

  authorship of Common Sense, 311–312

  background, 305–308

  Benjamin Franklin, letter of introduction from, 309–310

  The Case of the Officers of Excise, 308

  name, change in spelling of, 312

  The Pennsylvania Magazine, editor, 310–311

  personality, 311

  “Reflections on Titles,” 310–311

  Peace commission, 331–334

  Pendleton, Edmund, 45–46, 49, 110, 139, 140, 165, 248

  Penet, Pierre, 339

  Penn, John, 37, 57, 260, 277, 336–337, 347

  Penn, Richard, 52, 151, 276

  Penn, William, 51, 197

  Pennsylvania

  call for general congress, 38

  delegates’ support for independence, 360–361

  delegates to first congress, 57, 77, 110

  demand for new government by public, 348

  disagreement between delegates and Provincial Congress, 375

  opposition to independence, 287, 294, 344, 354, 374

  political change in, 346–351, 361

  as proprietary colony, 76

  reconciliation with Britain, desire for, 63

  slavery in, 158

  vote for independence, 378

  Pennsylvania Assembly, 37, 74, 162

  draft of new instructions for delegates, 349–351, 359

  election of John Dickinson to, 76, 133

  hope for reconciliation, 190, 256

  offer of Assembly Room as meeting place for congress, 79–80, 199

  resistance to independence, 328, 332

  restriction of delegates to members of Assembly, 77

  Pennsylvania Chronicle, 138

  Pennsylvania Evening Post, 417

  Pennsylvania Gazette, 396

  Pennsylvania Hospital, 52–53

  The Pennsylvania Magazine; or American Monthly Museum, 310–311

  Pennsylvania Packet, 329, 360, 417

  Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall)

  description, 53

  as meeting place for Pennsylvania provincial assembly, 288, 348, 349, 359

  as meeting place for second congress, 199

  suggested meeting place for first congress, 79–81

  Philadelphia

  committee of correspondence, formation, 22

  cultural and intellectual institutions, 53–54

  ethnic and religious diversity, 52

  hospitality in, 137

  as location for general congress, 39

  population, 51, 441n15

  prosperity, 52–53

  public buildings, 53–55

  public meeting in, 348

  role of Quakers in, 197, 328

  Philadelphia Committee of Correspondence, 38, 77

  Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 324–326

  Pickering, Timothy, 391–392

  Pitt, William, the Elder (1st Earl of Chatham), 177–178, 204, 279

  Plain Truth (Chalmers), 325

  “Plan of a Proposed Union Between Great Britain and the Colonies” (Galloway), 125–128

  Pliarne, Emmanuele de, 339

  Pointe-aux-Trembles, Canada, 298

  Pomeroy, Seth, 240

  Powder Alarm, 105, 107–108

  Powel, Samuel, 137

  Prendergast, William, 129

  Preston, Thomas, 71

  Priestly, Joseph, 26

  Prohibitory Act (1775), 330, 402

  Putnam, Israel, 107, 234, 239

  Putnam, James, 66

  Quaker Party, 76, 123

  Quartering Act (1774), 29

  Quebec, Canada, assault on, 298–299

  Quebec Act (1774), 152–154, 164

  Quincy, Hannah, 67

  Quincy, Josiah, 67, 72

  Randolph, Benjamin, 247, 392

  Randolph, Edmund, 321–322

  Randolph, Elizabeth Harrison, 81, 281

  Randolph, John, 93

  Randolph, Peyton, 39, 49, 57, 58, 93, 159, 165, 198, 260

  background, 81–82

  death, 281

  loss of Congress chairmanship to Hancock, 218–219

  personality traits, 81, 82–83

  political career, 82

  president of second congress, election as, 199

  Read, George, 57, 375, 416

  Reed, Joseph, 35–37, 106, 190

  “Reflections on Titles” (Paine), 310–311

  Resistance, effect of the Association on, 185–186, 189–190

  Revere, Paul, 11, 35, 144, 192–193

  Rhoads, Samuel, 57, 162

  Rhode Island

  delegates from, 135

  formation of committees of correspondence, 22

  request for American navy, 268

  royal authority, relationship with, 282, 343, 356–357

  slave trade and, 410

  slavery in, 158

  support for independence by, 356–357, 370

  Richard (Jefferson’s slave), 247

  Richardson, Thomas, 192

  Rittenhouse, David, 312

  Robinson, John, 82

  Rodney, Caesar, 56, 60, 135, 136, 375

  ride to Philadelphia for vote on independence, 377–378

  support for new Delaware government, 361–362

  Romney (ship), 213–214

  Ross, James, 139

  Rush, Benjamin, 4, 228, 254, 305, 311–312

  Rutledge, Edward, 43, 46, 57, 59, 137, 139, 140, 169, 286, 345, 373, 375

  education, 6, 43, 58

  objection to non-exportation agreement, 121, 154–155

  opinion of Christopher Gadsden, 44

  opposition to independence, 352, 367–368

  relationship with John Adams, 6, 352

  vote for independence, 376–377

  Rutledge, John, 48, 57, 60, 99, 118, 137, 242, 268, 284

  as advocate of reconciliation, 117, 139, 201

  education, 43

  as member of committee to draft petition to King George, 139–140, 166

  on non-exportation, 154–155

  opinion of Christopher Gadsden, 44

  opposition to John Dickinson’s plan for reconciliation, 206

  shifting positions on issues of ‘reconciliation,’ 206, 224, 251

  social background, 43

  support for new South Carolina government, 286

  Sandwich, Lord (John Montagu), 274

  Schuyler, Philip, 184, 198, 234, 237

  Scott, George Lewis, 309

  Sea Nymph (ship), 44

  Seabury, Samuel, 189

  Sears, Isaac, 33, 364, 365

  Second Co
ntinental Congress

  acting as committee of the whole, 200, 344, 354, 370, 374, 407

  agenda, 201, 261

  appointment of Washington as continental army commander, 227–228, 230–231

  arming of vessels against British ships, 337–338

  attendance, decrease in, 294–295

  Committee of Five, 396, 406, 407

  committee to assess military situation, 265–266

  committee to prepare declaration of independence, 354, 387

  committee to prepare form of colonial confederation, 354

  committee to prepare plan of treaties with foreign powers, 354

  committees to manage war, appointment of, 263–264

  Common Sense, reaction to, 320–322

  composition of, 259–260

  continental army, formation, 226–227

  Declaration of Independence, editing, 408–413

  Declaration of Independence, signing, 414–416

  delegates’ views on independence, 329–330

  disjunction between Congress and public opinion, 327–329

  dispatch of committee to New Jersey, 288

  dispatch of mission to Canada, 335

  distribution of Declaration of Independence, 417–418

  English constitution, use of as model for government, 312–314

  foreign alliances, importance, 336–337

  foreign alliances, relationship of to independence, 339–340

  Fort Ticonderoga, news of capture, 201

  importation resolution, adoption of, 340

  independence, debate of on July 1, 1776, 371–374

  independence, vote for on July 2, 1776, 376–379

  John Dickinson, proposals of, 202–206

  John Hancock, election of as president, 218

  Lord North’s “peace plan,” response to, 256–257

  navy, creation of, 267–269

  new governments, resolution calling for establishment of, 345

  officers, election of, 199

  Olive Branch petition, 251–253, 276, 277

  peace commission, reaction to Parliament’s promise, 331–334

  popular support for, 195

  Prohibitory Act, reaction to, 331–332

  proposed resolutions for charting next steps, 207–208

  reading of draft of Declaration of Independence, 407

  rebuke of New Jersey for intended petition to king, 287–288

  recommendation that Virginia form new government, 293

  reinforcements for Canadian front, 299–300

  reluctance to sever ties with Great Britain, 280

  resolution to establish new governments, adoption, 342

  secrecy, rule of, 289–290

  Secret Committee, 264, 338–339

  use of Pennsylvania State House as meeting place, 199, 456n5

  Virginia resolution proposing independence, introduction of, 351–354

  volunteer army, disadvantages, 266–277

  The Second Treatise of Civil Government (Locke), 394, 398

 

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