Fought on June 23, 1780, the Battle of Springfield was a decisive American victory that effectively ended British ambitions in New Jersey. Major General Nathanael Greene’s Continental troops and local militia thwarted a British push toward General George Washington’s headquarters in Morristown
On June 22, 1775, Congress authorizes the issue of $2 million in bills of credit.
By the spring of 1775, colonial leaders, concerned by British martial law in Boston and increasing constraints on trade, had led their forces in battle against the crown. But, the American revolutionaries encountered a small problem on their way to the front: they lacked the funds necessary to wage a prolonged war.
Though hardly the colonies’ first dalliance with paper notes—the Massachusetts Bay colony had issued its own bills in 1690—the large-scale distribution of the revolutionary currency was fairly new ground for America. Moreover, the bills, known at the time as “Continentals,” notably lacked the then de rigueur rendering of the British king. Instead, some of the notes featured likenesses of Revolutionary soldiers and the inscription “The United Colonies.” But, whatever their novelty, the Continentals proved to be a poor economic instrument: backed by nothing more than the promise of “future tax revenues” and prone to rampant inflation, the notes ultimately had little fiscal value. As George Washington noted at the time, “A wagonload of currency will hardly purchase a wagonload of provisions.” Thus, the Continental failed and left the young nation saddled with a hefty war debt.
Time to return to the gold standard....
A few photos from our event at Cantigny. Thank you to the staff for sharing these
Nice! Looked like a great event.
We had a great time there on Sunday. I’m from the East Coast where Revolutionary War stuff was quite common. Thanks for showing my wife and daughter what it was like.
“Don’t one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”
Battle of Bunker Hill begins
British General Thomas Gage lands his troops on the Charlestown Peninsula overlooking Boston, Massachusetts, and leads them against Breed’s Hill, a fortified American position just below Bunker Hill, on June 17, 1775.
George Washington was named commander in chief of the colonies by the Continental Congress. Today, June 15, 1775
TRY REENACTING!
Do you want to fire a musket, help crew a cannon, or just enjoy an evening around the fire?
Our Units are excited to host folks who want to try out the hobby.
They will supply the necessary gear and clothing for you (and your family) to join us for a weekend reenacting the American Revolution!
What are you in for? Read our “What Re-enacting with the NWTA Looks Like.”