The Newburgh Conspiracy of 1782 was the closest an American army has ever come to a revolt or coup d’état (Kohn, 17). Due to the failed attempt to ratify the Impost of 1781, Alexander Hamilton, one of the most involved conspirators in Congress to partake in the conspiracy, along with other nationalist conspirators in Congress, attempted to use the threat of the conspiracy as a weapon to pressure Congress into accepting an amendment to the Articles of Confederation. This amendment would allow the national government the power to tax imports, which would also result in a stronger national government; the Impost of 1781 would have given the government the ability to lay a 5% duty on imports. Alexander Hamilton tried to encourage General George Washington to help pressure Congress as well, but Washington remained true to his position as general of the American Army.
In December 1782, the officers based at Newburgh, New York, agreed to petition Congress for the pensions that they were not receiving. Just after Christmas, Major General Alexander McDougall, along with two colonels, brought their protest to Philadelphia (Ferling, 249). In early January 1783, amongst rumors of mass resignations, a three-man delegation of officers went to Philadelphia to place before Congress a petition that compiled their repressed grievances (Chernow, 432). The petition stated that many officers had become poor, or missed out on the opportunity to become rich, as a result of years of service. Many officers health was in danger as well(Ferling, 249). Pay and half-pay, however, was the least of the officers concerns in Newburgh. Most officers were anxious about returning to a regular lifestyle. For all, the end of hostilities meant re-entering a society tha...
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...he Creation of the Military Establishment in America, by Richard Kohn
Publisher: Free Press
The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory by Jesse Walker
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher
A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic by John Ferling
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
Publisher: the Penguin Group
Seven Men and the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
The Inside History of the Newburgh Conspiracy: America and the Coup D'etat by Richard Kohn
Publisher: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture
The Newburgh Conspiracy by C. Edward Skeen
Publisher: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture
Horatio Gates at Newburgh, 1783: A Misunderstood Role by Paul David Nelson
Publisher: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture
Holton, Woody. Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution. New York: Hill and Wang, 2007.
“Join, or Die.” “Don’t Tread on Me.” These are two mottos often used by Revolutionary supporters and fighters from about 1754 to 1783, and even sometimes today it is still used. These were battle cries that patriotic men would scream with all their might before charging onto the battlefield, where they might take their last breath. Nearly five thousand men gave their lives, for freedom’s sake. Their sacrifices were not done in vain, as the war was ended on September 3rd, 1783. This sense of victory and accomplishment is what lead these new Americans to further establishing their country, making their mark on history, and creating a new identity for themselves, as free men and woman.
After the French and Indian war, the Britain saw a need for the “more centralized control” (Outline of U.S. History, 2011, p.52). They felt as necessary to eliminate any interference from the colonialists. The colonies on the other hand, expected more freedom and independence. Hence there was a forthcoming conflict. When the organization of Canada and Ohio valley would not adopt the policies to “alienate the French and Indian inhabitants, and British needed more money and land for settlement” (54) and fear of more war erupting, the restricting and taxation laws were passed. For example the Proclamation Act of 1763, Stamp Act of 1764 and others. Although some of these were passed to counter the other, it was still evident that there was a conflict between the colonialists and the British. General Thomas Gage commanded the garrison in Boston, and his main duty was to enforce the Coercive Act (57). His forces were raided the “minutemen and eight killed in the attack “(59), and pushed on to Concord. Soldiers were lost during the fight. The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and voted to go to war; Colonel Washington of Virginia was the Commander in Chief (59). Despite the break of war many people seen it has impossible to break the ties with England. At the end of that year, December 23, Thomas Paine, who had previously
Jones, Thomas. History of New York during the Revolutionary War: New York, New York Times, 2008
As a federalist Alexander Hamilton wanted to establish a stronger federal government under a new Constitution. He met in Philadelphia with other delegates to discuss how to fix the Articles of Confederation that created a weak central government. During the meeting, Hamilton expressed his view that a dependable current source of revenue would be crucial to develop a more powerful and resilient central government. Although Hamilton played a diminutive part in the writing of the Constitution itself, he did heavily influence its ratification. In cooperation with James Madison and John Jay, Hamilton wrote fifty one of eighty five essays under the joint title The Federalist “The Federalist Paper.” In the essays, he cunningly explained and defended the newly drafted Constitution prior to its approval. In 1788, at the New York Ratification Convention, two thirds of delegates opposed the Constitution, however Hamilton was a powerful advocate for ratification, effectively arguing against the anti Federalist persuasion. His efforts succeeded when New York agreed to ratify, which led the remaining eight states to follow. He had a proposal for the new government that was modeled on the British system, which Hamilton considered the best.
Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States Volume 1: American Beginnings to Reconstruction. New York: The New Press, 2003. Book.
The Crisis of the American Republic: A History of the Civil War Era, Guelzo, Allen; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1995 Print
Another extremely important issue Washington faced was that of the Whiskey Rebellion. The whisky rebellion started when a tax was placed upon distilled liquor. The farmers of Pennsylvania completely infuriated at the taxed because Whisky was their most profitable product and their form of money. In 1794, they set up an armed uprising against the taxes. Alarmed by the attack, and following Hamilton’s advice, Washington sent over 12,000 troops into Pennsylvania for peace keeping. This was the first time a national militia was ever used in the new country. Washington’s decision proved to the people that Congress finally had th...
"The New Republic Faces a New Century." American Passages. 4th ed. Vol. 1. N.P.: Ayers 179, n.d. 179. Print
Joyce, Appleby, et al. "The American Revolution." The American Vision. New York: McGraw Hill Glencoe, 2005. 114-126. Print.
Fear begets hate and hate begets violence. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the 1741 New York slave conspiracy trials. Much like the violence in the Salem Witch Trials, a set of natural circumstances coupled with the word of one or two people from a lower order of society caused hysteria and bloodshed. This case is flimsy by modern-day standards and is also very flimsy by the standards of the 1740s.
Roark, J.L., Johnson, M.P., Cohen, P.C., Stage, S., Lawson, A., Hartmann, S.M. (2009). The american promise: A history of the united states (4th ed.), The New West and Free North 1840-1860, The slave south, 1820-1860, The house divided 1846-1861 (Vol. 1, pp. 279-354).
George Browm Tindall, David Emory Shi. American History: 5th Brief edition, W. W. Norton & Company; November 1999
"His mind was great and powerful, without being of the very first order; his penetration strong . . . Perhaps the strongest feature in his character was prudence, never acting until every circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed; refraining if he saw a doubt, but, when once decided, going through with his purpose, whatever obstacles opposed." (Thomas Jefferson, as cited in "George Washington," 2006, para.19) George Washington is one of the most recognized and famous leaders in all history of the United States of America. He contributed greatly to the establishment of this prosperous country, from leading the Revolutionary armies into battle, to running the country as the first president, Washington has set precedence and example for all who have and are yet to follow. He was a noble man who demonstrated characteristics one would expect from a hero figure. He was not power-hungry, but did things and played his role for the good of the country, for patriotic purposes, to help America become the success it is today. In March of 1783, the soldiers of the American military were restless, bored and in a terrible state of doubt and distrust concerning the newly formed congress of the country. When these soldiers joined the army, they were promised a certain amount of money according to their service, but by the war's end, congress was nearly broke and not in a position to pay them all they had earned. The soldiers planned a rebellion against congress for their unjust treatment, and attempted to hold an unauthorized meeting of the officers on the matter. Washington forbade the meeting, but called for one a few days later, in which he gave his speech concerning the Newburgh Conspiracy ("The Rise and Fall," 2006, para.2). General Washington was a highly respected man among his peers, soldiers, and fellow men. His opinions, approval, and presence alone were enough to validate many plans, documents, and meetings throughout his life, so it is no wonder that even simple words or acts performed by General Washington were respected, and more often than not, taken to heart by his audience; perhaps this is why it may seem surprising that one of the most important speeches he ever gave fell on relatively deaf ears, leaving the audience hesitant, confused, seemingly unaffected by his powerful use of diction, and emotional appeal.
Roark, James L. The American Promise: A Compact History. 4th. ed. Volume 1: 1877. New York: BEDFORD/ST. MARTIN'S, 2010. Print.