This Month in Colonial History: July

Facsimile of the original Declaration of Independence

July was a busy month during the Colonial and Federal eras!

2: "Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances. That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation." In 1776, this resolution is adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, thus closing the Colonial era (roughly). In 1788, Congress announces that the Constitution has been ratified, by 9 of the 13 states, thus ushering in the Federal era.

3: George Washington steps up to command the Continental army. (1775)

4: In 1776, the Declaration of Independence is approved by the Continental Congress. In 1801, to commemorate the nation’s 25^th anniversary, the U.S. Marines parade in review for President Jefferson.

A last effort to avoid full-out war with Britain

5: “The Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch Petition expressing hope for a reconciliation with Britain. However, King George III refused even to look at the petition and instead issued a proclamation declaring the colonists to be in a state of open rebellion.” (The History Place) Now there’s a tidbit I’d never heard before! (1775)

6: Birth of John Paul Jones (1747-1792) in Kirkbean, Scotland.

8: First public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia (1776). In 1796, the first passport is issued by the U.S. State Department.

10: Birth of John Calvin (1509-1564) in Noyon, France. (Cited here because of the deep influence Calvinism had on the American Revolution.)

11:  Birth of John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) in Braintree, Massachusetts. In 1798, his father President John Adams approves an act officially creating the U.S. Marine Corps. And in 1804, the death of Alexander Hamilton in a duel with Aaron Burr.

Kutani Crane by Wedgwood

12:  Birth of British pottery designer Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) in Burslem, Staffordshire, England.

13: Congress enacts the Northwest Ordinance: "Considered one of the most important legislative acts of the Confederation Congress, it established the precedent by which the Federal government would be sovereign and expand westward with the admission of new states, rather than with the expansion of existing states and their established sovereignty under the Articles of Confederation." (Wikipedia) (1787)

14: In 1789, the fall of the Bastille in France. In 1791, on the second anniversary, the Birmingham riot takes place, resulting in mob rule for three days.

15: Birth of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) in Leiden, Holland.

16: Birth of British portrait painter Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) in Plympton, Devon, England. In 1769, the founding of San Diego as the mission San Diego de Alcala by Father Junipero Serra.

19: Samuel Colt invented the revolver. (1814)

20: Britain enacts the Riot Act, to be read in case of rowdy gatherings. “Our sovereign Lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the act made in the first year of King George, for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God save the king.” Thus the term "being read the Riot Act" is born. (1715)

25: American forces defeat the British at the Battle of Niagara Falls. (1814)

26: Benjamin Franklin becomes the first Postmaster General. (1775)

31: The opening of the U.S. Patent Office. (1790)

Which of these did you not know, before?

 As always, my thanks to The History Place, Holiday Insights, and Marine Corps University. And Wikipedia. :)