American Revolution Podcast

Congress focuses on western lands to resolve its money problems. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the Week: Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, by Jon Meacham. Online Recommendation of the Week: Ohio in the time of the Confederation: https://archive.org/details/ohiointimeofconf0...

At the end of the Revolutionary war, people began to deal with the ideals of freedom and equality while maintaining slavery. Northern states mostly put slavery on a slow path to eventual abolition. Sothern States do not. In Massachusetts, several slaves sue under the argument that the Constitutions claims that all men are born free and equal means that they are born free and equal. Blog https://bl...

The American Revolution Podcast round table met on Zoom to discuss Lord Dunmore's War on the eve of the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Point Pleasant. Author Glenn Williams provided us with a great summary of those events. For more on this topic, get a copy of Dunmore's War: The Last Conflict of America's Colonial Era, by Glenn Williams (available in paper, Kindle, or audio versions). You can...

In 1783, General Henry Knox proposes the establishment of a private organization for Continental officers called The Society of the Cincinnati. National leaders see the new group as a threat trying to undermine freedom and self-government. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the We...

In November, 1783, Washington takes leave of his officers and the army after the British Depart New York. Washington makes his way to Annapolis to resign. Congress misses the arrival of the Dutch Ambassador and scrambles to get the final peace treaty ratified while accepting Washington's resignation. Finally a civilian, Washington arrives home at Mount Vernon on Christmas Eve, 1783. Blog https://b...

Although parties had established a preliminary peace treaty in 1782, the process of moving the British army and loyalist civilians out of New York took well over a year. General Guy Carleton remained concerned about leaving behind any loyalists who might suffer the wrath of their neighbors for loyalty to the crown. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pict...

The Powder Alarm resulted from a British raid in September, 1774 to capture powder from a local storage site. It made clear that the patriots needed better intelligence and a better rapid response system to challenge the British soldiers. Round table events are recorded live. Participants have an opportunity to comment and ask questions. If you would like to join a future event live, please join m...

Although major operations of the war ended in 1781, it took several more years before negotiators could work out a peace treaty. The American Peace Commissioners bickered with one another, and had to navigate French diplomacy and British politics to reach a final deal. On September 3, 1783, all parties signed Peace treaties in Paris, formally agreeing to the terms that would end the war. Blog http...

In June of 1783, British forces (not yet aware of the preliminary peace treaty that had been concluded in late 1782) attacked the Indian town of Cuddalore. The British besiege the city while a French fleet challenges a larger British fleet from control of the waters off the city. The British Commander, General James Stuart, finds himself fighting not only the French and Mysore, but also finds hims...

In the summer of 1783, disgruntled Continental soldiers march on Philadelphia, forcing Congress to flee to Princeton. Washington sends the majority of the Army home, keeping only a few hundred men. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the Week: American Crisis: George Washington and...

British agent James Logan Colbert raises a force of western loyalists and Chickasaw Indians to attack a Spanish outpost on the Arkansas River. The Spanish garrison manages to chase off the attackers, but not before the sack the village and take prisoners. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommen...

The Continental Congress struggles in late 1782 and early 1783 to find a way to pay the army and its creditors for the cost of the war. It's inability to levy taxes, or convince the states to pay, results in a financial crisis. Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris, announces his retirement. Word of the Treaty of Paris forces Congress to act. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a comple...

In early 1783, all Americans await the arrival of an expected peace treaty. The Continental Officers, afraid that they will be sent home without any pay and their promised pensions, organize to challenge Congress. General Washington manages to talk down his officers and save the country from a military coup. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, a...

After a few final skirmishes, the British army evacuates Charleston, SC in December 1782. They take with them thousands of loyalist militia, civilians, and slaves. The Continental Army immediately takes control of the city. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the Week: To the Last...

In 1782 and 1783, as it becomes increasingly apparent that the British have agreed to leave the United States, loyalist officers like John Bacon of New Jersey and the Doan Brothers of Pennsylvania continue to fight. Bacon massacres sailors on Long Beach Island. The Doans rob county treasuries and steal horses. The patriots governments treat t hem as outlaws and hunt them down. Blog https://blog. A...

In the summer and fall of 1782, two expeditions of Butler's Rangers, supported by large numbers of Indian warriors attack American outposts in Kentucky and West Virginia. Daniel Boone in Kentucky and Ebenezer Zane in West Virginia fight desperately to fend off these attacks. George Rogers Clark leads a counter offensive into the Ohio territory. He expects support from the Continentals at for Pitt,...

American and British negotiators work out a final treaty. It gives the Americans most of what they want. France is frustrated that the Americans have worked out a deal before France could also agree to one. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the Week: Britain and France at the Bir...

John Jay takes a central role in negotiating peace with Britain after he loses trust that France will negotiate with America's interests in mind. France works with its ally Spain to retake Gibraltar, which Spain set as a condition for ending the war. At the same time, France tries to negotiate peace with Britain on its own terms. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript,...

During the Summer of 1782, Both the British and American Delegations fight amongst themselves trying to decide what peace should look like. Arthur Lee tries to recall the American Peace Delegation. Charles James Fox undercuts the British government's efforts to negotiate. John Jay throws Franklin's plans into disarray. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as...

After the fall of Lord North's Government in Britain in early 1782, the new government under Lord Rockingham reaches out to Benjamin Franklin in Paris to discuss terms for a final peace. This began a protracted negotiation on the final terms of a treaty. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommend...

Through the spring and summer of 1782, British forces in Charleston under Alexander Leslie and Continental forces under Nathanael Greene skirmish with one another. Both sides recognize the end is near, but continue to fight over resources as they await a final end to the war. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's e...

Author Alan Pell Crawford discusses his new book - This Fierce People: The Untold Story of America's Revolutionary War in the South. We talk about why the war in the south seems to be less known, and why it was more of a civil war than we see in the north.   This Fierce People: The Untold Story of America's Revolutionary War in the South, by Alan Pell Crawford. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Continental General Anthony Wayne struggles to keep an army in the field to challenge the British in Savannah. Finally, in July 1782, Britain abandons Savannah, returning complete control of Georgia to the patriots. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the Week: The American Revolut...

After years of effort, Congress adopts the Great Seal in the summer of 1782. It also debates what to do about Vermont. French Minister Luzerne throws a huge party in Philadelphia to help with Franco-American relations in light of continuing money problems. George Washington adopts new badges for the army, including the Purple Heart. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcrip...

In the spring of 1782, Colonel William Crawford leads an army of Pennsylvania Militia into Ohio Territory to destroy Indian villages. Blog https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Battle of Upper Sandusky, 1782, by Eric Sterner. Online Recommendation of the Week: Narratives of...