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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Adams, John, 1735- (search)
their fears, and allure their hopes, by discussing it in newspapers and pamphlets, by debating it in assemblies, conventions, committees of safety and inspection, in town and county meetings, as well as in private conversations, so that the whole people, in every colony, have now adopted it as their own act. This will cement the union, and avoid those heats, and perhaps convulsions, which might have been occasioned by such a declaration six months ago. But the day is past. The second day of July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great Anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever. You may think me transported with enthusia
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Morris, Robert 1734-1806 (search)
orris, Robert 1734-1806 Financier, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence; born in England, Jan. 20, 1734; came to America at the age of thirteen years; entered the mercantile house of Charles Willing, Robert Morris. of Philadelphia, and in 1754 entered into partnership with his son. At the beginning of the Revolution it was the largest commercial house in Philadelphia. Mr. Morris espoused the cause of the colonies, and was a member of the Continental Congress in 1775. On July 2, 1776, he voted against the resolution for independence, and on the 4th he refused to vote on the Declaration because he considered the movement premature. When it was adopted, he signed it. Hard money was lacking to pay the bounties offered by the Congress when Washington attempted to recruit his army (December, 1776). It was an urgent necessity at a critical moment. The Congress had just ordered the issue of $5,000,000 in paper money, but the credit of that body was already so low that m
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), New Jersey, (search)
remained a dependency of New York until 1738, when it was made an independent colony, and so remained until the Revolutionary War. Lewis Morris, who was the chief-justice of New Jersey, was commissioned its governor, and was the first who ruled over the free colony (see Morris, Lewis). William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin, was the last of the royal governors of New Jersey (see Franklin, William). A conditional State constitution was adopted in the Provincial Congress at Burlington, July 2, 1776, and a State government was organized with William Livingston as governor. After the battle of Princeton and the retreat of the British to New Brunswick, detachments of American militia were very active in the Jerseys. Four days after that event nearly fifty Waldeckers (Germans) were killed, wounded, or made prisoners at Springfield. General Maxwell surprised Elizabethtown and took nearly 100 prisoners. General Dickinson, with 400 New Jersey militia and fifty Pennsylvania riflemen, c
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), State of Pennsylvania, (search)
ss in favor of conciliatory measures, and deprecating everything likely to widen or perpetuate the breach with the parent state. The committee of sixty for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, headed by George Clymer and Thomas McKean, went in procession, two by two, to the State-house, and delivered a remonstrance, calculated to counteract the influence of Dickinson and the Quakers. This halting spirit in the Assembly appeared several months longer, and on the vote for independence (July 2, 1776) the Pennsylvania delegates were divided. Steel-works in Pennsylvania. The Assembly, influenced by the proprietary government and office-holders in its own body, as well as by timid patriots, hoping, like John Dickinson, for peace and reconciliation, steadily opposed the idea of independence. Finally, a townmeeting of 4,000 people, held in Statehouse Yard, in Philadelphia (May 24, 1776), selected for its president Daniel Roberdeau. The meeting voted that the instruction of the A
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), State government. (search)
s, liberties, and properties against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies. This was the first act of Congress in favor of absolute independence of Great Britain. The recommendation was generally followed, but not without opposition. New Hampshire had prepared a temporary State government in January, 1776. The royal charters of Rhode Island and Connecticut were considered sufficient for independent local self-government. New Jersey adopted a State constitution July 2, 1776; Virginia, July 5; Pennsylvania, July 15; Maryland, Aug. 14; Delaware, Sept. 20; North Carolina, Dec. 18: Georgia, Feb. 5, 1777; New York, April 20; South Carolina, March 19, 1778; and Massachusetts, March 2, 1780. For all practical purposes—even to the extent of alterations of the constitutions, except in a few States where different provisions were made—the supreme power was vested in the respective legislatures, which, excepting Pennsylvania and Georgia, consisted of two branches.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), New Jersey, (search)
thority......May 23, 1775 Provincial legislature, convened by Governor Franklin, Nov. 16, is prorogued......Dec. 6, 1775 Governor Franklin, sympathizing with the action of the British government, is arrested and sent to East Windsor, Conn., where (until exchanged in 1778) he is held as a prisoner......1776 Provincial Congress convenes at Burlington, June 10, 1776, appoints a committee to prepare a constitution, June 24, who report, June 26, a constitution, which is confirmed......July 2, 1776 Ordinance passed denouncing the penalty of treason upon all who should levy war against and within the State, or be adherent to the King of Great Britain......July 18, 1776 Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkins, Richard Stockton, and John Witherspoon, delegates from New Jersey, sign the Declaration of Independence......Aug. 2, 1776 Legislature chooses William Livingston governor of the State......Aug. 31, 1776 Washington retreats through New Jersey.......November, 1776