Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Georgia's major strategic role in the Revolution was as a staging point for attacks into British Florida, and of course the French were allies of the Patriots.
The Patriots were those who supported the Crown. The others were Rebels.
Jamestown, VA. was the first successful British colony settled. It was settled in 1607. Plymount was settled in 1620. Also Hopewell, VA. which is another British colony was settled in 1613. Both Virginia colonies are older than Plymount.
Agreed, and I think people forget this. But a huge difference I always come back to is that The Virginia colony was a business venture, while Plymouth was religious. I think that's why we focus on Plymouth, it jibes better with out American mythology.
The Mayflower Compact- The idea of law made by the people was continued. This idea lies at the heart of democracy.
Two important permanent settlements: Pilgrims at Plymouth, Puritans in Mass Bay Colony.
Harvard College-est. 1636, the oldest institution of higher learning in the US.
1773-Boston Tea Party. Throwing British tea into the ocean to protest high taxes.
People having input, not taking orders from government--the sort of idea that lead to the Revolution.
1775-First battle of the American Revolution fought at Lexington & Concord. Paul Revere's ride.
1776-British troops forced out of Boston--first major victory of the Revolution.
--and more. I think Massachusetts comes in first in terms of early established communities with their own governments, educational awareness, and sparking the American Revolution.
I say: P E N N S Y L V A N I A
-- Philadelphia, the largest and most populous city in the British colonies in the 18th Century.
-- Philadelphia the second largest English-speaking city in the world in the 18th Century; after London itself!
-- Founded in the 1600's as William Penn's "noble experiment" where all religions could be practiced freely laying the groundwork for religious freedon in America.
-- William Penn's treaty with Chief Tamanend of the Lenni Lenape Indians, an unprecidented act of respect, civility, friendship which was praised throughout the world (read Voltaire on the subject).
-- Dr. Benjamin Franklin, the most celebrated and admired American in the world at that time.
-- The University of Pennsylvania, the first University in colonial America (Harvard and Yale were chartered as theological seminaries, not multi-disciplinary universities so Penn can rightfully claim to be the First University).
-- The House of Burgesses meets at Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall
-- The First Congress meets at the Pennsylvania State House, now called Independence Hall
-- The Declaration of Independence, discussed, debated, drafted, signed in Philadelphia
-- Betsy Ross and the Stars and Stripes
-- The Battle of Germantown
-- The Battle of Brandywine
-- Washington at Valley Forge
-- The British occupation of Philadelphia
-- Washington crosses the Delaware River
-- The Constitution of the United States of America written, debated and signed here.
... and also onsider these Philadelphia Firsts ...
1682 - first brick house in the colonies
1683 - first public park
1685 - first published almanac
1698 - first public school
1719 - first fire engine
1728 - first botanic garden
1731 - first library
1732 - first hospital
1742 - first theater
1753 - Pass & Stow cast the first bell ... The Liberty Bell
1775 - first piano made in the colonies
Oh, I could go on and on, but I'll stop here.
Last edited by Clark Park; 05-02-2014 at 05:22 PM..
The Patriots were those who supported the Crown. The others were Rebels.
On this side of the pond, the "Patriots" were those who fought for their country and their freedom - the were patriotic Americans who overthrew the rule of a foreign despotic king. Those were in favor of staying subordinate to the British royal family are called "Loyalists."
Anyway, it's the victorious who write the history, capiche?
Look at which colonial delegations decided the articles of the US Constitution. Rhode Island didn't even send a delegation. It was: VA, PA, SC, NY, MA, NC, GA and few others, as I recall. The most debated provisions of all were those that favored the institution of American negro slavery (Section 9 of Article 1; Section 2, Article 4, Article 5, and Section 2 of Article 1) in the Southern states and other, Northern states that traded with them, like NY, PA and MA.
Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony and passed the 'Toleration Act' of 1649 allowing freedom of religion, presaging the First Amendment. Without this, America might have evolved differently, with state-run church/church-run state. That was certainly the early direction of Massachusetts under John Winthrop. Rhode Island and Pennsylvania also played some role in religious freedom, of course.
Charleston SC was a boomtown in later colonial times due to being an important port.
Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony and passed the 'Toleration Act' of 1649 allowing freedom of religion, presaging the First Amendment. Without this, America might have evolved differently, with state-run church/church-run state. That was certainly the early direction of Massachusetts under John Winthrop. Rhode Island and Pennsylvania also played some role in religious freedom, of course.
Charleston SC was a boomtown in later colonial times due to being an important port.
I think that many of us learned that the first Pilgrims came to Plymouth and Massachusetts seeking religious freedom. Yeah its true but it turns out they were only seeking religious freedom for themselves!
Besides Rhode Island and Maryland, one of the bigger victories for real religious freedom of all came from Flushing in New Netherland (New York). There during the "Flushing Remonstrance", English colonists living in what was a foreign country at the time, petitioned in 1657 for religious freedom for Quakers and eventually won. After this New Netherland began to allow religious freedom for different Christian groups and even Jews.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Flushing Remonstrance
