November Revolutionary War Calendar

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From Breed's Hill Institute

Revolutionary Calendar for the Month of November


November 1 1765, 
Parliament enacts the Stamp Act.
The Stamp Act was a special tax designed to force the American colonists to use stamped paper in the printing of newspapers, pamphlets, wills, bills of sale, marriage licenses, almanacs, and playing cards, and all commercial and legal papers. It was not just a tax but also a form of social engineering, specifically raising costs on and therefore controlling newspapers, lawyers, printers and everyday people. The Outrage of the colonies was immediate. Massachusetts politician Samuel Adams organized the Sons of Liberty to plan protests against the measure and the Virginia legislature passed resolutions opposing the act.
 
Nov 1 1800 John Adams in the last year of his only term as president moved into the newly constructed 'President's House'.

November 2, 1777
Captain John Paul Jones sets sail.
The USS Ranger, with a crew of 140 men under the command of John Paul Jones, leaves Portsmouth, New Hampshire to begin raids on British warships.

November 3, 1777
Washington learns of Conway cabal
On this day in 1777, General George Washington is informed that a conspiracy is afoot to discredit him with Congress and have him replaced by General Horatio Gates. Thomas Conway, who would be made inspector general of the United States less than two months later on December 14, led the effort.

November 9, 1780
A near miss in South Carolina
On this day in 1780, British Major James Wemyss, commanding a force of 140 horsemen, attempts to surprise 300 South Carolina militiamen under General Thomas Sumter at Fishdam Ford, South Carolina. Instead of capturing Sumter as planned, Wemyss, 'the second most hated man in the British army,' was wounded in the arm and knee, and captured by Sumter.


November 10, 1775
The birth of the US Marine Corps.
On this day the future President John Adams sees his resolution passed by the Continental Congress stating that 'two Battalions of Marines be raised' for service as landing forces in the recently formed Continental Navy. This resolution created the Continental Marines and is now observed as the birth date of the United States Marine Corps.

November 11, Veterans Day.

November 12, 1775
Abigail Adams is ready for Independence
Upon hearing of England's rejection of the so-called Olive Branch Petition on this day in 1775, Abigail Adams writes to her husband, 'Let us separate, they are unworthy to be our Brethren. Let us renounce them and instead of supplications as formerly for their prosperity and happiness, Let us beseech the almighty to blast their councils and bring to Nought all their devices.'

November 13, 1775
Patriots take Montreal
Continental Army Brigadier General Richard Montgomery takes Montreal, Canada, without opposition.

November 15, 1777
   The Articles of Confederation are adopted.
After debating for 16 months, the Continental Congress agrees to adopt the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. Not until March 1, 1781, would the last of the 13 states, Maryland, ratify the agreement.

November 16, 1776
Hessians capture Fort Washington
On this day in 1776, Hessian Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen and a force of 3,000 Hessian mercenaries and 5,000 Redcoats lay siege to Fort Washington at the northern end of Manhattan Island. Nearly 3,000 Patriots were taken prisoner. The prisoners faced a particularly grim fate aboard British prison ships anchored in New York Harbor.

November 19, 1776
Congress pleads for soldiers
On this day in 1776, Congress pleads for the states to send more soldiers to serve in the Continental Army, reminding them 'how indispensable it is to the common safety, that they pursue the most immediate and vigorous measures to furnish their respective quotas of Troops for the new Army, as the time of service for which the present Army was enlisted, is so near expiring.'


November 20, 1789
The Bill of Rights is ratified in New Jersey.
New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights. This act was a first step toward making the first 10 amendments to the Constitution law and completing the revolutionary reforms begun by the Declaration of Independence 12 years earlier.



November 25, 1783
The last British soldiers leave New York-
Nearly three months after the Treaty of Paris was signed, and almost exactly two years after the Battle of Yorktown, the last British soldiers withdrew from New York City, the last British military position in the United States. After the last British soldier departed, U.S. General George Washington entered the city in triumph to the cheers of New Yorkers. The city had remained in British hands since its capture in September 1776. For many years this was celebrated as Evacuation Day in NY



November 28, 1777
John Adams replaces Silas Deane
After the judgment and loyalty of Silas Deane is called into question, Congress appoints John Adams to succeed Deane as the commissioner to France on this day in 1777.

November 29, 1775
Congress creates Committee of Secret Correspondence
On this day in 1775, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, establishes a Committee of Secret Correspondence. The committee's goal was to provide European nations with a Patriot interpretation of events in Britain's North American colonies, in the hope of soliciting aid for the American war effort.

November 30, 1776
General and Admiral Howe offer amnesty
On this day in 1776, Admiral Richard Howe and General William Howe, 'the King's Commissioners for restoring Peace,' issue a proclamation from New York City, promising pardon to those who will within 60 days subscribe to a declaration that they will desist from 'Treasonable Actings and Doings.'
The Howe's offer appealed to thousands of residents from downstate New York, who were willing to trade in their weapons for pardons. At the time, Westchester, Manhattan and Long Island were securely in British hands and would remain so until after the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783.