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The story of the incredible work of two men who financially saved independence · Cultural Wars | America Out Loud News

0:23
Good afternoon, America, and welcome to history class.
0:27
I hope you are uh you're on the front row today, because well, you know, every every history class is worthy, in my opinion, of being on the front row.
0:40
So please, by all means, grab a seat, grab a worn beverage, warm warm.
0:46
If you're if you're taking notes, well, pull out a pad and a pencil, a number two with a nice eraser or a pen, you know.
0:55
Perhaps you like to write in pen.
0:57
That's fine.
0:57
I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna bash the pens, but I do love a good number two, a good sharpened number two.
1:05
All right, so let's let's not waste any time.
1:09
Let's dive right in.
1:10
I think we're gonna go back to Philadelphia today.
1:12
So we we did spend some time in Philadelphia.
1:16
We have highlighted specifically Benjamin Franklin.
1:21
And then we spent some time in in regard to the mood of the Philadelphia delegates.
1:28
There were seven, seven of them total.
1:32
Uh, and we talked about their mood, and how John Dickinson was the leader of the pack, Dickinson.
1:42
Uh not only did he did he lead the pack of the of the Philadelphia delegates, but he led the entire moderate movement.
1:51
It's what we call the the moderate movement.
1:54
These were the guys who were they just weren't on board independence, they weren't afraid to fight, and they certainly supported the militias.
2:04
They were all on board with with getting gunpowder and and weaponry and and making sure that the militias were financed, but the purpose behind the fighting, they they weren't quite there yet.
2:18
They were fighting to bring England to the table.
2:23
They wanted England to come to the negotiating table to talk through reconciliation.
2:30
I mean, ultimately, they wanted to be represented in parliament.
2:33
They didn't want to be taxed, no taxation without representation.
2:37
That little rhyme uh carried the day for them.
2:41
But they weren't afraid to fight to get what they wanted, but there was an entirely different group that was willing to fight, but they wanted to take it a step further and they wanted to become independent and they wanted to have their own country.
2:56
And this is the debate that's raging.
2:59
And so Philadelphia is the not only the the epicenter geographically, because they're they're meeting here in Philadelphia, but it's also the the epicenter.
3:11
Um I don't want to say dogmatically, but but maybe dogmatically is the right word, ideologically, maybe might be the right word.
3:23
It it's it's not only a geographic epicenter, but it's an epicenter and a particular way of thinking.
3:28
It's a thought epicenter.
3:31
And John Dickinson is not only the leader of the delegates from Pennsylvania, he's also the leader of this particular thought.
3:41
Everybody is rallying around him.
3:43
They are all coming to his uh to his leadership, as it were.
3:49
He is he's the leader of the pack.
3:51
When I say Dickinson is the leader of the pack, literally, he is indeed the leader of the pack.
3:57
So we've spent some time talking about Dickinson, who we didn't spend a lot of time talking about, that's what I want to get into today.
4:05
Are two other delegates, uh, Robert Morris and uh a Mr.
4:11
Charles Willing, Morrison Willing.
4:14
These two fellas are intriguing.
4:17
They were in the camp with Dickinson, and but something happened along the way, where um I don't know that they I don't believe they broke company, but Morris and Dickinson kind of saw things differently.
4:36
So I'm gonna spend some time today focusing on Robert Morris and Charles Willing, because these two played another important role in this whole operation of the revolution.
4:48
So today's our data to highlight these two men.
4:52
Robert Morris, let's start with him first.
4:55
He is considered by many as the financier of the American Revolution.
5:00
He pledged his personal credit to the Republic.
5:03
Uh he he made possible several campaigns, including the ultimate campaign, the campaign against Lord Cornwallis and Yorktown in 1781, uh, which ended this whole escapade here, this whole military operation.
5:20
You know, but by the way, let me just pause here for a minute.
5:24
I had a couple sixth grade boys, three to be exact, knock on my office door the other day.
5:30
And they said, Mr.
5:32
Bowen, can we talk to you about one of these paintings out here?
5:36
Because we have paintings that line our walls.
5:41
And I said, sure, I'll be happy to talk to you about one of the paintings.
5:44
And it happens to be the painting right outside my office door.
5:47
If you go outside my office door and turn to the right, and then look on the wall right there on the right, you're going to see the painting of the Yorktown surrender.
5:58
And so they're asking me questions.
6:00
Who's this guy?
6:00
Who's that guy?
6:01
Why is this guy doing that?
6:04
Uh, and they made note of George Washington, because you know, you can you can find him in a in a crowd.
6:12
And they asked, well, why is Washington not the one on the horse with his hand out accepting the the sword?
6:21
Why is he in the background?
6:22
And why, and we just uh number one, I was I was happy that these boys are inquiring.
6:28
Happy that they're asking questions about American history, asking uh genuinely.
6:35
I mean, no one is prodding them to do it.
6:37
This isn't an assignment, this isn't a lesson here.
6:40
They didn't um, you know, they're not asking for credit.
6:44
They're not this isn't part of a test.
6:47
It's just these boys out here being curious and wondering what what's going on here in this painting.
6:54
What and that those, oh boy, I tell you, those questions are the best questions.
6:59
The questions that are uninspired or or or I don't want to say uninspired, the questions that I was gonna say that are uninspired by an upcoming test, which that applies.
7:13
Certain questions that aren't prodded by an upcoming test or an upcoming exam or or you know, you're trying to get credit about something.
7:22
The best questions are the questions that are born out of curiosity, the questions that are born out of wonder.
7:29
Who is this guy and why is he doing this, and why is that guy over there doing that?
7:34
And uh it just gave me an opportunity really to talk about the uh the surrender and how Cornwallis wasn't he wasn't the one to come out and and offer his sword because maybe he was embarrassed.
7:52
Um maybe he felt uh you know ashamed.
7:56
He was bested by the Yankees, which which by the way, it was in that moment.
8:02
Legend has it in that moment that the continental band struck up a tune.
8:07
They struck up Yankee Doodle Dandy.
8:10
And so we we talked about that.
8:12
We talked about the history of and we just ran out here in the hall right outside my office door.
8:16
We just took a few minutes and talked about the whole history of this event, the history of of the song Yankee Doodle and and how it even got started and the and the beauty of the American band, as it were, playing Yankee Doodle right there in that moment.
8:32
I just I love it.
8:34
Absolutely love it.
8:35
All right, little sidebar there.
8:37
Little side note here in the life of uh of a waterbrook student.
8:41
Just a day in a life, that's all.
8:43
Just a day in a life.
8:44
So back to Morris.
8:46
So he he financed this campaign.
8:48
I don't know that Yorktown happens without him.
8:52
Certainly the crossing of the Delaware and the surprise attack on Trenton doesn't happen without him.
8:58
There are several moments of of historical import in terms of the military operations that don't happen without Robert Morris.
9:07
And also without his friend here, Charles Willing.
9:10
And let's get into it.
9:12
Morris is born in Liverpool, England, January 31st, 1734.
9:19
My dad was born in in 1935, almost 200 years to the year.
9:25
201 years.
9:26
I don't know.
9:27
I just that's kind of cool.
9:29
Uh Morris's father, speaking of fathers, his was an iron worker.
9:34
Uh and he, so he's an he's an iron worker in in England, but he will later immigrate emigrate to the colonies, specifically to Pennsylvania.
9:46
And he comes alone.
9:47
He leaves his son under the care of of the boy's grandmother.
9:52
So it's his father's mother.
9:55
And he's so he's in.
10:00
He is in his grandmother's care.
10:02
I want to say till maybe 1747, I don't know, 13, 14 years, I feel like.
10:10
Um he is then uh sent to Oxford on uh Maryland's eastern shore.
10:19
Uh his father uh gets a place there.
10:22
His father becomes a tobacco merchant.
10:27
And then he sends for his son.
10:29
Uh he comes to America probably around the age of 13, and he starts to study for a short while with um Reverend Gordon, and then he's placed in the counting house of Mr.
10:42
Charles Willing.
10:43
Kate Charles Willing is a very successful merchant, and his dad places him to work for Mr.
10:50
Willing to receive a commercial education.
10:52
He wants his son to go in into business and into finances.
10:57
Uh at 15.
11:00
Unfortunately, his his father dies in an accident could have been avoided, but nonetheless, his father dies.
11:09
And Morris uh is on his own, but he works hard.
11:14
He works faithfully for Mr.
11:16
Charles Willing, and he gains his confidence.
11:19
He would later say he gained the confidence of his master.
11:25
And um, he did it through uh just sheer business acumen.
11:31
I mean, he did the kid had smarts, but he spent two years studying and learning and watching Mr.
11:37
Willing, Charles Willing here, understanding the ways.
11:42
Um it was at one moment he learned of a sudden advance in the price of flour in the foreign markets.
11:52
Uh Willing's gone.
11:55
Willing is is absent.
11:57
He's he's off somewhere doing something.
11:58
So Morris takes it upon himself to immediately contract for all the local flour he could get.
12:05
To the dismay of several rival merchants.
12:09
Uh and 1754, uh, willing realizes that this kid's got brains.
12:18
He's a smart one, and he invites him into partnership.
12:22
I mean, this was a bold move to come to the conclusion that if you you get the word that price of flour in foreign markets is going up, then by all means, contract all the flour that you can get right here at local prices, and then sell it to the local market.
12:39
I mean, to the uh to the markets abroad.
12:44
You know, they wanted that nice American flour.
12:46
And you're you're gonna make some money.
12:48
And he did, made a handsome profit.
12:50
He was forward thinking.
12:52
He had the mind for it.
12:54
And, you know, studying under Charles Willing aided in that mind.
12:59
And so it was willing then 1754, who offered him a partnership.
13:04
Uh, and the firm became willing and Morris.
13:07
And it was prominent in Philadelphia for almost 40 years, willing and Morris.
13:12
Uh, if you if you needed some some some financing, you went to Willing and Morris.
13:18
These guys knew how to get it done.
13:20
It was so extensive and so lucrative that both men became extremely wealthy long before the revolution, both Willing and Morris.
13:29
These two, these two are loaded.
13:32
They were using their own vessels, they traded with Europe.
13:36
They traded with the West Indies.
13:39
Uh, it's told that sometimes Morris would make the voyages along with with the product with his ship captains.
13:48
And at one point, on one trip, he was taken prisoner by the French because you know, there were French pirateers out there, always, you know, on the lookout, uh, you know, trying to take vessels and and and take goods and take product and take humanity, as it were.
14:08
So at one point, he's on one of these excursions.
14:12
Uh, the trip uh on this one particular trip, his ship is attacked by the French.
14:17
He's taken prisoner, he's put ashore in France without a shilling, he would say.
14:22
He was in a precarious position.
14:25
But by ingeniously mending a Frenchman's watch, because he was gifted and talented mechanically.
14:33
He earned a small amount of money and was able to make his way to a port and get passage back on a ship for America.
14:41
So he's he's not only smart financially, uh, he's gifted in other ways.
14:46
He's he's forward thinking.
14:49
Uh, he's got his head on a swivel.
14:52
Both he and Willing both have their heads on swivels.
14:55
They're very smart men, very able, very capable men.
15:01
When the Stamp Act became a thing in 1765, uh both men were opposed to it.
15:07
Morris signed the the non-importation agreement in November of 1765, which which meant he was to accept no merchandise from England until the repeal of the Stamp Act.
15:20
And this this would be a great sacrifice to him and Willing.
15:24
Uh they imported large quantities of goods from Britain, manufactured goods.
15:31
Uh they um exported colonial products.
15:34
I mean, there was this is really how they made a bulk of their money was this import-export operation they had going.
15:41
Uh, but when the Stamp Act showed up, they said, no, we're not.
15:46
We're not doing this.
15:47
We will we will sign this agreement.
15:50
Um, and it'll be at a great sacrifice at a great cost to them personally and to their business.
15:59
But this is who they were, and this is what they were made up of.
16:02
Both men.
16:03
They were willing to do what they felt was right, in spite of the cost.
16:10
And this they would bring this attitude to play during the debates here, during the the whole um continental Congress.
16:24
All right, let's pause here.
16:25
This is a good place to break.
16:28
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21:04
Welcome back to History Class, my friends.
21:08
We are celebrating the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
21:12
We're doing this on Fridays.
21:15
And we're doing it this year especially because we're celebrating 250 years of American independence.
21:22
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21:27
July 2nd, July 3rd, July 4th.
21:30
You are invited to attend the 25010 gala bash, star-spangled extravaganza.
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I mean, whatever you want to call it, we're celebrating 250 years of America of glorious American independence and 10 years of America out loud.
21:51
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22:03
This is what this platform stands for.
22:05
We love it.
22:06
We I am I'm honored.
22:15
To be on stage with uh other great hosts and and writers from this network.
22:20
And we want you to join us.
22:22
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22:25
Go to AmericaOut Loud.news, click the banner ad up there and see what you have to do to get yourself registered.
22:32
But you better do it quickly because this thing will sell out.
22:35
There will not be a ticket left.
22:37
I promise you that.
22:39
All right, back to the signers of the declaration.
22:43
Now we're we're talking about two men.
22:47
Uh Robert Morris and Mr.
22:51
Willing here, Morris and Willing, Mr.
22:55
Charles Willing.
22:57
Now, Charles Willing did not sign the declaration.
23:01
Morris did.
23:03
And we we covered that a couple of weeks ago when we talked about Pennsylvania, when we talked about the delegates from Pennsylvania, we will we will hit that again.
23:13
Um so when I say we're talking about the signers, we are actually talking about a person who signed and a person who didn't.
23:20
They were both delegates, both delegates from uh Pennsylvania here, Philadelphia to be exact.
23:30
So here we are, we're in the 1760s, 1770s, and and this company here, this firm, Willing and Morris are becoming this company is becoming, and these two men are becoming some of the most powerful merchants in America.
23:47
Um the 18th century here is it's creating this extraordinary period of economic expansion.
23:54
Uh colonial America's population is surging, their economic output is surging, and merchants like Willing and Morris are prospering unbelievably, and primarily because of the transatlantic trade with with Britain.
24:13
Willing uh is deeply embedded in this commercial world, both Willing and Morris are uh that the two men together coordinated economic boycotts against British policies, such as the Stamp Act, the Towns and Acts.
24:29
They're they're very patriotic.
24:32
Uh, and they use trade as a political weapon.
24:35
I wonder if this is where um you think Donald Trump has read about Willing and Morris.
24:40
I don't know that he has, uh, but but he's using trade, obviously, as a political weapon in terms of tariffs.
24:47
I mean, these men understood it, and they they understood how they could use it as a political weapon.
24:55
And both of them moved rather easily and freely among the leading figures of the day, such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.
25:08
They absolutely had their ear.
25:11
It was Willing who chaired protests, organized merchants, and helped guide Pennsylvania's response to imperial taxation.
25:23
Yet uh prosperity shaped his political instincts, as well as Samuel Morris.
25:30
Many wealthy merchants at this time saw little advantage in severing ties from Britain.
25:37
The imperial connection that they had produced enormous economic growth.
25:42
I mean, the output for these two men.
25:45
As I said, before the revolutionary war gets here, these guys are extremely wealthy.
25:50
And it's because of this of this trade that they have with Britain.
25:56
And when they when they are both elected to the Continental Congress, by the way, willing.
26:03
He's elected in 1774, and his partner, Morris, he's elected in 1775.
26:11
Both of them are very influential.
26:13
I mean, they show up and they're extremely wealthy.
26:15
Matter of fact, Morris uh invites Washington and Franklin and these big name individuals.
26:26
He's at his home almost nightly.
26:28
They're they're there having dent.
26:29
Matter of fact, I think Washington, when he shows up in 1774, before he takes command of the army in 1775, he's staying at Robert Morris's home.
26:44
Morris opens up his home and Washington as they're dining regularly.
26:49
He's sleeping there.
26:50
He's basically living with Robert Morris.
26:54
Um in 1775, when Morris is elected to that second Congress.
27:01
Um, he becomes chairman of the secret committee, the secret committee was ended up being this committee that was uh suggested by Chase from Chase from Maryland.
27:20
And uh ultimately it was designed to uh initially the purpose of it was to reach out and form uh foreign alliances, and that idea was was put down because of men like the uh the moderates, who by the way uh Morris is a moderate, so that idea was put down, but they did go along with this idea of having a secret committee where they would have secret correspondence with some of these other nations.
27:52
It just so happens that Morris is chairing the secret committee.
27:56
Uh, he set up contracts for the importation of arms and ammunition and gunpowder.
28:02
Later, he's appointed to the committee to uh devise ways and means for furnishing the colonies with naval uh equipment.
28:12
He also served as vice president of the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety.
28:16
So both of these men are very much involved politically, they're engaged politically, and as I said, you know, previously, they are not opposed to war.
28:29
They're just opposed to the to the rationale behind it.
28:33
They are very much in support of war because they understand trade.
28:39
They under matter of fact, even though uh both men are in opposition to uh independence, that opposition is not a reflection of them being cowards at all.
28:54
Because uh beneath this narrative of the American Revolution, you know, this there is this struggle here.
29:04
Um, the the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians and other settlers in the western regions of the colonies.
29:11
Well, they held some deep hostility toward Britain, and they pushed aggressively for for independence, but the the wealthy merchant class, the coastal merchants, and and this wealthy class that Willing and Morris were a part of their fortunes depended on this Atlantic trade.
29:30
Uh, and so they're a little more cautious here.
29:33
And so they're not necessarily willing to sever tie uh sever ties from Great Britain, in large part it's because of their own personal wealth, their their own personal ability to continue building that wealth, especially in Pennsylvania.
29:53
This political clash grows so intense that the colonial assembly in Pennsylvania.
30:00
Isn't instructing its delegates to not vote for independence, don't have anything to do with it.
30:05
You know, Philadelphia, it happens to be a port city, and they're worried about it.
30:13
They're they're worried about severing ties.
30:17
But they're okay with fighting.
30:19
They're okay with with fighting to bring uh Britain into the fold.
30:26
Uh so in 1776, when it comes, when it comes time for Pennsylvania to cast their vote.
30:36
It is a no vote from Robert Morris, Willing, Humphreys, and uh Dickinson.
30:44
We talked about this a couple weeks ago.
30:46
The yes votes uh come from Benjamin Franklin, they come from James Wilson, and uh they come.
30:54
Who is the other yes vote?
30:56
Who was uh what was his name?
30:59
What was his name?
31:00
John Morton, that's right, Detroit Lions fame, Johnny Morton.
31:04
These guys vote yes.
31:06
July 1st, but it's the the vote fails from Pennsylvania, four to three on July 2nd, when it's time to cast another vote.
31:20
Robert Morris and John Dickinson, who is the leader of the the moderate party, they stay away.
31:28
They stay home.
31:29
Uh Willing is there.
31:31
Willing shows up and he still puts his his vote as an as a no for independence.
31:35
Humphreys still votes no for independence.
31:38
But Morris and Dickinson stay home.
31:41
They don't show up.
31:42
So the vote carries Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, James Wilson, all still vote for independence.
31:49
Uh and of course, later on, um, well, um, I guess you know, before I get to later on, that summer, a couple weeks later, it comes time for Pennsylvania to re-up their their delegates.
32:05
And they do not re-elect Willing.
32:07
They don't re-elect Humphreys, they don't re-elect Dickinson.
32:10
Morris, however, gets re-elected.
32:12
I'm I'm not sure why.
32:13
I don't know what the what the inner workings there are.
32:15
I would have to uh do a little bit more research, but I'm intrigued.
32:20
I am, and I probably will do a little bit more research into why Morris was re-elected and willing was it.
32:28
These two guys are partners, they're partners in Willing and Morris.
32:32
They both vote no on day one.
32:34
On day two, Willing votes no, and Morris abstains.
32:41
Morris is absent.
32:42
He stays home.
32:43
So the vote carries.
32:45
Uh Benjamin Rush in his sketch of the men who signed the declaration.
32:51
Uh, here's what he said about Robert Morris.
32:54
He was opposed to the time of the declaration, but not to the act of the of the declaration of independence.
33:03
But he yielded to no man in his exertion to support it.
33:08
And the year after it took place, he publicly acknowledged on the floor of Congress that he had been mistaken in his former opinion as to its time, and said that it would have been better for our country had it been declared sooner.
33:24
All right.
33:24
So a year later, 1777.
33:28
Robert Morris goes to the floor of Congress and says, you know what?
33:31
I was wrong.
33:32
Uh I did.
33:33
I've always been in support of the of the declaration of independence.
33:37
I just wasn't in support of the time.
33:38
But I was wrong.
33:39
It should have been sooner.
33:41
I felt like earlier it should have been later, but it now it should have even been sooner.
33:46
Uh Morris alone of those in the delegation who voted no, was re-elected on July 20th.
33:54
Uh, there are three other members that are elected to replace the three that weren't.
34:00
And so we've got uh men who signed the declaration of independence from Philadelphia who were not even in the debates.
34:12
Uh Ross, uh Smith, and then um who's the other fellow who signed Ross Smith.
34:23
You think I I don't I don't know off the top of my head.
34:26
I usually have my notes right in front of me.
34:28
Um but regardless, other men signed the declaration who weren't even a part of the debate.
34:35
Um, but you know, Morris in a letter in 1775, he he's writing to Joseph Reed.
34:43
And he stated that he had been opposed to the declaration of independence because of what he called his poor opinion.
34:50
It was an improper time, and although prompted to decline the unexpected election, he could not go back on the conviction which first induced him to enter public life, his belief that it was the duty of every individual to act his part in whatever station his country may call him in the hour of difficulty, danger, and distress.
35:14
So Morris does this.
35:17
He he he abstains from voting, but he's re-elected, he signs the declaration of independence, and in so doing, and this is the thing.
35:26
This is the intriguing thing about Robert Morris.
35:30
Uh he's one of the most wealthiest, one of the most wealthiest.
35:35
There's a double comparison for you.
35:37
He's one of the wealthiest men in the country.
35:41
He and Willing together.
35:43
But Morris shows up, even though he didn't vote for independence.
35:49
He might be the only man actually who did not vote for independent.
35:53
I know, no, I shouldn't say that.
35:55
There were others.
35:56
There were others who didn't who didn't support it and vote for it, but they did sign the declaration when the time came.
36:03
But Morris is unique because he's in a position, even though he didn't sign the declaration.
36:10
I'm sorry, even though he didn't vote for the declaration.
36:13
He, like uh Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who was also was probably wealthier than Morris, they signed the declaration, even though they didn't cast a vote in favor of it.
36:25
They still show up to Congress, they put their name under it, pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor and their fortunes were great.
36:34
And this is this is who Robert Morris was.
36:36
His fortune was massive, but he was not afraid to show up and sign away his life, sign away his sacred honor, and sign away his fortune for the cause.
36:51
If it was indeed the will of the colonies, then Morris was going to stand behind it.
36:57
And he did.
36:57
He stood behind it and he stood behind it with a vengeance.
37:00
All right, so listen, let's let's pause here.
37:03
I want to, I want to take the break here.
37:05
This is a good spot to take it.
37:07
When we come back on the other side of this break, I want to cite some examples, uh, some things that Willing and Morris both did.
37:17
Because even though, even though Willing was not re-elected, and even though Willing didn't sign the declaration of independence, uh, he and Morris were partners, and they were still ardent patriots.
37:31
And they jointly, they did things together that financially saved the country.
37:36
So I want to go up, I want to dive into some stories here and the other side of this break of what these two men actually did, and how together they they saved independence.
37:47
All right, we'll pick it up on the other side.
37:49
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And uh, you know, let's let's be smart with our cash flow.
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Speaking of being smart with your cash flow, Willing and Morris were two men who were smart with their cash flow.
41:12
They understood economics, they understood business, they understood the power that it contained.
41:21
They understood the influence that it brought them.
41:25
And they used that influence on behalf of the Patriots, both of them did.
41:31
So, as we said, they they run Willing and Morris, uh, this import-export house in Philadelphia, and they're doing very well for them for themselves.
41:44
They are financially stable, and they're patriots.
41:48
They believe in the cause.
41:49
As a matter of fact, when the conflict initially broke out at Lexington and Concord, and then at the battle of what would become known as the Battle of Bunker Hill, even though ultimately it was it was fought on Breeds Hill.
42:06
The Battle of Bunker Hill was the moniker that stuck.
42:10
It was the colonies, it was the Patriots who faced a dire shortage of gunpowder.
42:16
As a matter of fact, the only reason they retreated from Bunker Hill, or essentially Breeds Hill.
42:25
The only reason they retreated from that battle was because they were short on powder.
42:30
And it is Israel Putnam who is given credit for ushering or uttering, as it were, the command.
42:40
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their eyes.
42:43
Boys, we've got to reserve our powder.
42:45
Wait till they're right on top of you.
42:48
And then unleash holy hell on them.
42:51
I mean, it can holy hell be a thing.
42:53
Is there such a thing as holy hell?
42:56
Uh just unleash the fury.
42:59
Make it happen, fellas, but it's because they didn't have gunpowder.
43:03
Otherwise, that battle turns out it turns out a lot different.
43:10
Much more differently that that battle unfolds in a much different way, because the Redcoats had retreated twice already, and they were making their third ascent up the hill when the Patriots were just like, we're out of battle.
43:24
I mean, we're we're out of uh ammo.
43:26
All right, fix bayonets, boys.
43:28
Let's just, you know, let's let's duke it out hand-to-hand combat.
43:34
They were outmanned, and so hand-to-hand combat wasn't that wasn't going to be much of an answer.
43:40
Their true answer was to retreat.
43:42
Let's retreat, let's live to fight another day, but it's because they didn't have gunpowder.
43:47
Um the British authorities were actively destroying colonial stockpiles.
43:53
This was the whole point of Lexington and Concord, is that they were making their way for stockpiles.
44:00
And without these needed supplies, the Patriot cause is going to collapse even before independence is declared.
44:07
Because now they're fighting in 1775.
44:10
Independence doesn't get declared until the following year.
44:13
And if we if we run out of powder, if we run out of cash of stockpile of of Hammo, it's over.
44:25
And this is where Willing and Morris and their network of merchants really proved decisive.
44:31
This is where these two guys and others liked them.
44:35
Haym Solomon, we've talked about him in the past.
44:38
These men stood in the gap.
44:41
It was Willing and Morris and the firm that used their so-so these guys, they're they're interesting because they've got these long-standing smuggling connections across the uh the Caribbean and into Europe.
44:58
You know, not everything is done on the up and up here.
45:02
The British, you know, they've had that they've closed that the Boston port.
45:06
It's been closed for a while, a couple years here at this point.
45:10
Um, I guess maybe in 1775 at this time, you know, maybe a year, year and a half.
45:17
So they have to invent other means, other means as it were.
45:24
They they have to get creative.
45:26
And willing and morris had connections and they got they got creative.
45:29
And so these merchants, they have this this network, this long-standing network of smuggling connections across the Atlantic.
45:39
And through this network, they were able to smuggle in and ship in gunpowder.
45:45
They were able to smuggle and ship in weaponry.
45:48
And it was Willing and Morris who really got this done through their own personal credit.
45:52
They established trade relationships to gain supplies that the Continental Congress itself would not be able to readily access.
46:02
But the the these men did it for them.
46:06
And then once independence was declared, it was willing, even though even though Willing didn't vote for independence, and even though on July 20th, he was not re-elected to the Continental Congress by his constituents.
46:22
It was Willing, who committed fully to the American cause.
46:26
His entire family did, as a matter of fact.
46:28
So Willing had a son-in-law who uh get this, he engaged in privateering.
46:34
Uh he he engaged in capturing British merchant ships and channeling back their supplies, back their proceeds to the the Continental Army in order to support the war effort.
46:46
He it was Willing's son-in-law who was part of uh initially this Navy before there was actually uh a Navy established.
46:57
The the Navy before the Navy was called Washington's Navy, and it was Washington's Navy who flew under the appeal to heaven flag.
47:06
And Willing has a son-in-law who's who's very much a part of this.
47:11
He's very much an engaged in privateering.
47:14
He's very much engaged in capturing British merchant ships, and then sending the booty back to the colonies.
47:22
Uh, and it was Willing, who served on numerous committees, uh, both at the state and and the continental level.
47:31
Um, and so in 1770, no, hang on, let me go, let me go back here to this note.
47:39
Um, yeah, so late late 1776.
47:44
And this is this is one of my favorite stories of all time.
47:47
I mean, we we talk about it all the time.
47:50
It's actual, it's actually an annual history class, but we're gonna revisit it today because of the role that Robert Morris plays in it.
48:01
And it's it's the point in time where where Washington is making his plans to cross the Delaware, and he's going through his through his notes, and he's he's talking with his counselors secretly.
48:16
You know, he's got a he's got a war council of four or five men, and they are drafting this plan to cross the Delaware and to put on the surprise attack that the Hessians won't see coming.
48:32
And this is important.
48:33
This is a very important attack because he is losing morale.
48:37
He's been on this, I don't know, uh, you know, two-month, three-month retreat, four-month retreat, even probably uh across New Jersey, out of New York and across New Jersey, and uh there is dismay, there is despair, there's hopelessness that's that's growing rapidly, even within his own confidant and his own officers.
49:04
Uh it's at this point in time that that Joseph Reed apparently is conspiring with uh Charles Lee to approach Congress to have Washington removed and have him replaced with with Charles Lee.
49:19
I mean, there's this move here because the the men are so desperate, they're so desperate for a win, they're so desperate for victory.
49:27
So Washington understands this, and and he gathers some of his trusted counselors together.
49:33
He didn't invite Joseph Reed to this meeting, by the way, because at that point he had already discovered the treachery of Joseph Reed.
49:40
And he had offered him an olive branch of forgiveness, and there's a whole interesting story there between Washington and Joseph Reed in Washington and Charles Lee, that you know, we can get into at a at another point in time.
49:52
But but Washington understands the importance of this moment, and he asks for an accounting of fund.
50:00
It comes back to him, sir.
50:01
We don't have any money.
50:02
We don't have it boats to cross the Delaware.
50:05
The men don't have food.
50:06
The men don't have clothing.
50:07
The men don't have ammo.
50:09
The men don't have, don't have, don't have.
50:11
That was the report.
50:14
And the answer to that report from Washington was somebody get me Robert Morris.
50:21
Get me Morris.
50:23
So it is Morris who supplies Washington with the necessary funds to make this happen.
50:33
And then when Washington, you know, they are successful.
50:39
They attack Trenton, and it's unbelievable success.
50:42
Well, four days after this raid, uh, Washington recrosses to Trenton, but again, he lacks the financial means to follow up his victories.
50:53
He needs more money.
50:55
The money that Morris was able to procure for this, by the way, this raid, the code name was Victory or Death.
51:04
And Washington is successful.
51:08
But now we we got to keep fighting, and we're out of money again.
51:13
Um he had been sent a little more than 400 Spanish dollars to to get needed intelligence of the enemy's movements.
51:22
Because you know, it's not only supplies that you have to pay for, but you have to pay for intelligence.
51:28
You have to pay for information.
51:30
You got to pay for everything.
51:32
Washington understood that.
51:34
Uh he had 400 Spanish dollars in order to get this intelligence purchase.
51:39
And then on December 31st, he again makes another appeal to Robert Morris for the quote, needful.
51:46
I need the needful, the needful things, which are required immediately to make good on this bounty promise to the troops for six more weeks of service.
51:57
Because to make matters worse, the enlistments were running out.
52:00
It's December 31st.
52:02
This is it.
52:03
Now, many of the men had said, yeah, after Trenton, they're like, we're signing back up.
52:08
If this is this is going to be where we're going, or if these are the victories, we're assigning back up.
52:13
But Washington had made a promise to them, and that promise included six weeks of um of pay if he could get six more weeks of service.
52:26
And so Morris, uh, whom the money calls were loud, large, and constant in his words, the the calls to him for money loud, large, and constant.
52:37
He he sent a note to Washington the next morning.
52:40
And here's what he said.
52:41
I'm up uh I'm up very early this morning to dispatch a supply of 50,000 to your Excellency, but it will not be got away so early as I could wish.
52:52
For none concerned in this movement except myself are up.
52:56
Nobody else is awake but me.
53:00
If further occasional supplies of money are necessary, you may depend on my exertions, either in a public or a private capacity.
53:10
Because Morris was right there and willing was right there next to him.
53:14
And it's on this occasion that Robert Morris is said to have called on one of his Quaker friends, who was very wealthy.
53:21
Uh, and this friend uh had asked Morris for the latest news.
53:28
And so here he is the uh here's the narrative in Morris's words.
53:34
The most important news is that I require a certain sum and specie, and that you must let me have it.
53:42
That's the news.
53:43
You want news?
53:44
The news is we need money, and you got it, and so hand it over, Pally, because I need it.
53:51
Uh the friend hesitated, and he said, your security is to be my note and no, no, I'm sorry.
53:58
When when the friend hesitated, you know, wanting to know how how if I give you this money, what's my security?
54:06
Morris said, your security is to be my note and my honor.
54:13
And his friend said to him, Robert, thou shalt have it.
54:18
I'm on your word, that's all I need is your word.
54:22
You you've given me your word and your honor.
54:24
And then the money went off to Washington an hour or two after sunrise, enabling the commander-in-chief to carry out his bold New Jersey campaign, including the Battle of Princeton, which continued to bring new hope to the American cause.
54:43
But the security here was the word of Robert Morris.
54:48
He said, on my word and on my honor.
54:51
And it wasn't just him, it was it was him and Willing together.
54:55
And uh, and people were good with that.
54:59
People said, okay, Robert Morris has said on his word and on his honor, he's a man of his word.
55:05
He's a man of honor.
55:07
Uh, you've got the money.
55:09
And this is how Morris did it time and time again.
55:13
Uh, and he did it again.
55:15
He and he and Willing both together did it again.
55:19
Uh at the very end, you know, Yorktown doesn't happen without Willing and Morris.
55:26
And this this secret plan to uh to to feign an attack on New York, and then go to Yorktown and pin Cornwallis down.
55:39
It doesn't happen without money.
55:42
And it was uh Haym Solomon, it was Robert Morris, and it was Charles Willing.
55:47
Again, these three and other merchants like them that rose to the occasion that rose and got it done.
55:55
I am uh I don't know, I'm I'm especially intrigued by this because we've got Willing and Morris together who who were in Congress, and neither of them cast a vote for independence, and one of them was not re elected.
56:14
So one of them did not sign the declaration, and yet the other one did.
56:18
But together, even after the fact, they both continued.
56:22
They both continued down the road of independence.
56:26
And I I love this story because we we don't hear about it.
56:30
We don't hear about these two men.
56:31
We don't know who they are.
56:33
And uh we don't know the story that that backs up their decisions.
56:40
Uh and this is why history class is so much fun to me.
56:43
That's why I love it.
56:43
And I I hope you love it too.
56:46
All right, my friends, that's it.
56:48
We are out of time.
56:49
Thank you for joining me today.
56:50
Thank you for being a part of this program.
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