The Road to Independence – Forming Local Governments

The Road to Independence – Forming Local Governments
Today the author talks about the steps Congress and Virginia took to replace the governance provided by the Royal Governors, who had either deserted the colony they governed or had become largely impotent.
This an excerpt from his book, 1776.
The book is in the final edit phase and publishing will begin on May 11
It will be part of the
Time Line of United States History Series
Meanwhile, you can enjoy the book 1775, which is available on the website, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. Just click the “Timeline of United States History” on the lower left hand side of the home page.
A box set that includes all six volumes of the series is available at that link at an economical price.

Greetings, today I will talk about the steps Congress and Virginia took to replace the governance provided by the Royal Governors, who had either deserted the colony they governed or had become largely impotent.
This an excerpt from his book, 1776.
The book is in the final edit phase and publishing will begin on May 11
It will be part of the
Timeline of United States History Series
Meanwhile, you can enjoy the book 1775, which is available on the website, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. Just click the “Timeline of United States History” on the lower left-hand side of the home page.
A box set that includes all six volumes of the series is available at that link at an economical price.
https://mossyfeetbooks.com/2021/11/02/2658/
By mid-May 1776 the Continental Congress and the colony of Virginia took several important steps towards the independence of the 13 colonies.

By mid-May 1776 the movement for independence from Great Britain had coalesced across the colonies. Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” which had been published in January and advocated independence sold thousands of copies. Colonial assemblies in eight of the colonies had passed resolutions advocating independence. The discovery that Britain had contracted to use German mercenaries to fight against them, a practice generally employed against foreign enemies, had encouraged the movement. On May 11, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the “Resolution for the Formation of Local Governments.” The resolution stated, “Congress recommends to the colonial assemblies and conventions, where no government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs have been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall . . . best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general.”
Many members of Congress hoped that the resolution would help persuade those supporters of independence in Pennsylvania to gain the upper hand. Many considered Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia key to independence.
The process of becoming a nation independent of Britain had passed another step.

The Fifth Virginia Convention passed a resolution on May 12, 1776, that stated, “a Committee be appointed to prepare a Declaration of Rights, and such a plan of Government as will be most likely to maintain peace and order in this Colony, and secure substantial and equal liberty to the people.”
The committee appointed 4 men to draft this declaration, George Mason, John Blair, Edmund Randolph and James Madison.
December 11, 1725 – George Mason Born
George Mason (December 11, 1725 – October 7, 1792)
The son of George and Ann Thomson Mason, George was native to Fairfax County, Virginia. His father drowned in a boating accident in 1735, leaving Ann to raise George and his siblings alone, in addition to running the plantation. He received his education from tutors and later attended a private academy. At twenty-one years of age, he took over management of the 20,000-acre estates left by his father. He married Ann Eilbeck in 1750. The couple would have nine children that survived until adulthood. He built Gunston Hall, where the newly married couple took up residence. Mason served intermittently in various public offices. In 1750 he became an investor in the Ohio Company in 1749 and later served as its treasurer. Ann died in 1773. Mason would not remarry until 1780. During the French and Indian War, Mason served as a colonel in the Virginia Militia. His duty as a supply agent for George Washington’s troops did not involve any field duty. When the tensions between the British and Colonies began to increase after the war, Mason sided with the Patriots. In 1774, he would collaborate with George Washington and Patrick Henry to write the Fairfax Resolves.
Edmund Randolph (August 10, 1753 – September 12, 1813)
The son of John and Ariana Jennings Randolph, Edmund was native to Tazewell Hall, Williamsburg, Virginia. After attending the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Randolph studied law with his father and uncle Peyton. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, his father remained loyal to Britain and migrated to Britain. Edmund joined the Continental Army and served as aide-de-camp to General George Washington. His uncle passed away in October 1775, so Randolph returned to Williamsburg to attend his affairs. While there, he gained election to the Fourth Virginia Convention, which began in December 1775. Several other political positions followed, including mayor of Williamsburg and Virginia’s Attorney General of the new government. He and Elizabeth Nicholas married on August 29, 1776. The couple would have six children. He gained election to the 17 Continental Congress, serving until 1782. In 1786 he became governor of Virginia. As governor he led a delegation of representatives to the Annapolis Convention in September 1786. The Convention’s purpose was to attempt a fix on some of the numerous defects in the Articles of Confederation. Election to the Constitutional Convention followed, where he introduced his Virginia Plan for government to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787.
James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836)
Known as the “Father of the Constitution,” Madison played an influential role in the formation of the early government of the United States. He, in concert with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, authored the Federalist Papers, a series of essays that explained the function behind the new Constitution before the states ratified it.
James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836)
The oldest of twelve children born to James Madison, Sr. and Frances Taylor, James was a native of Orange County, Virginia. A small child with delicate health, his father eschewed sending him to public schools. Instead, he sent him to private tutoring with Donald Robertson, an instructor at the Innes Plantation in the Virginia Tidewater area. His education included mathematics, geography, modern and ancient languages. From Robertson, Madison gained a lifelong love of learning.
Higher Education
At sixteen, James returned to his father’s plantation, Montpelier, to further his studies under Reverend Thomas Martin. He studied with Martin for two years and then enrolled in the College of New Jersey. After completing studies in Latin, Greek, science, geography, mathematics, rhetoric, and philosophy he did not end his studies. Madison graduated in 1771. He stayed in New Jersey for a time, furthering his studies under the tutelage of school’s president, Reverend John Witherspoon. From Witherspoon he learned Hebrew, law and political philosophy. Many historians attribute the ill health that plagued him the rest of his to the long hours he spent studying.
Return to Montpelier
In 1773, Madison had completed his studies and returned home to Montpelier. At five feet, four inches tall, Madison was diminutive in stature. When he returned the rigors that would constitute the American Revolution were beginning. Madison’s would use his intellect to form the nation that would come out of that Revolution. He was ready to begin the political career that would begin with his appointment to the Orange County Committee of Safety in December 1774.
Political Career
Madison gained election to the Fifth Virginia Convention in 1776, where he played a role in the drafting of the first Virginia Constitution. After this document took effect, he was elected to the new Virginia House of Delegates, where he met Thomas Jefferson.
John Blair (April 17, 1732 – August 31, 1800)
The son of John Sr. and Mary Munro Blair, John was native to Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia. Blair attended the College of William and Mary, graduating with a BA in 1754. Blair traveled to England in 1755 to attend Middle Temple, where he attained a law degree. After his return he opened a law practice in Williamsburg. He gained election to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1766, where he would serve until 1770. During the first struggles against Britain, Blair was moderate. When the Royal Governor suspended the House of Burgesses, he quickly joined the patriot cause. Blair was elected as part of the Fifth Virginia Convention in 1776.

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