Virginia Conventions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Virginia Conventions were a series of five political meetings in the state of Virginia in response to British colonial rule. The Conventions played an important role in the move towards American independence through the American Revolution. The first Convention was organized after Virginia's colonial governor, Lord Dunmore, disbanded the House of Burgesses when they called for a day of prayer as a show of solidarity with Boston, Massachusetts, where the British had closed the harbor. The Burgesses moved to Raleigh Tavern to continue meeting. The Burgesses declared support for Massachusetts and called for a congress of all the colonies to be formed, the Continental Congress. In the form of the first Convention, the Burgesses met and elected representatives to the Virginia convention, banned commerce and payment of debts with Britain, and pledged supplies and support to Boston.
The Second Convention opened in Richmond and met at St. John's Church on March 20, 1775. At the Convention, Patrick Henry proposed arming the Virginia militia and persuaded the other members of the Convention with his "give me liberty or give me death" speech.
The Third Convention met in July, 1775 after Gov. Dunmore had fled the capital and taken refuge on British warship. The Convention created a Committee of Safety to take over governance in the absence of Dunmore. The Convention also divided Virginia into 16 military districts and resolved to raise regular regiments.
The Fourth Convention denounced Dunmore and declared that Virginians were ready to defend themselves "against every species of despotism."
The Fifth Convention began May 6, 1776 and met in Williamsburg. On May 15, the Convention declared independence from Britain and instructed its delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to propose independence. On June 7, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia's delegates to Congress, carried out these instructions and proposed independence, paving the way for the Declaration of Indepedence. On June 12, the Convention adopted George Mason's Declaration of Rights, a precursor to the United States Bill of Rights. On June 29, the Convention approved the first Constitution of Virginia. The Convention chose Patrick Henry to be the first Governor of Virginia.
