Robert Morris's Contribution To The Revolutionary War

Orphaned at the age of sixteen, Robert Morris was alone in a new continent. Future signer of the Declaration of Independence, Morris thrived at a young age and was able to make a living for himself. Although many are not familiar with his name, and how he contributed to the revolutionary war, he played an essential role in the success of the war against England. Morris, almost single handedly financed the Revolutionary War, and the development of the Bank of the United States following. Like many others of his time, Morris was born in England in 1734, and at the age of 10 came to the Chesapeake Bay. He attended school in Philadelphia for a year, but was told by his teacher that he was not fit for formal education. In 1748, he left to live

was an importer company, they were hit hard when the act was enforced. Morris and Willing chose the side of the colonials and engaged in the movements against British rule (Kindig). Morris led a street protest, which later he wrote that if he had not complied he feared his house would have been torn down “brick by brick” (“Robert Morris”2011). Willing and Morris produced the first non-importation agreement; this ended slave trade in Philadelphia in 1769. In 1775 Morris was asked to be one of the wardens of the port of Philadelphia, in this position he convinced the captain of the tea ship Polly to return to England. With this action Philly was free of any kind of violence similar to what happened in the Boston Tea Party. Although not a scholar, he took the knowledge he knew and the information he learned in his apprentice years, Morris was able to save the Philadelphian ports from

(“Robert Morris”2011) Thanks to the supplies brought in by Morris the Congress was able to post guards there that night. Due to the increase of Robert’s activity in the patriot cause, he spent time at the side of Ben Franklin on the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, and soon became its chairman. Following this, Morris was later elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly, and then to the Second Continental Congress. Along many others in the congress Morris did not agree to the separation from England, because he did not see that the Americans were ready for self rules and that in result there would be anarchy. He sided with those who argued for peaceful resolution, not seeking for independence (Rappleye). When the vote for independence was taken on July 2, 1776 Morris left the room so that independence could pass without his dissenting vote (“Robert Morris”2011). Although we see controversy on whether or not that Morris was present on July 4 when the Declaration of Independence was passed, we know that when the time came to signing the Declaration on August 2, Morris was present and signed, “recognizing the value of unanimity among the delegates” (“Robert Morris”2011). During his time with Congress Morris was on the Secret Committee, from where he used his commercial contacts as a network of secret