Forced Founders: Indians, Debtors, Slaves, and the Making of the American Revolution in Virginia (Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early ... and the University of North Carolina Press)

In this provocative reinterpretation of one of the best-known events in American history, Woody Holton shows that when Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and other elite Virginians joined their peers from other colonies in declaring independence from Britain, they acted partly in response to grassroots rebellions against their own rule. The Virginia gentry's efforts to shape London's imperial policy were thwarted by British merchants and by a coalition of Indian nations. In 1774, elite Virginians suspended trade with Britain in order to pressure Parliament and, at the same time, to save restive Virginia debtors from a terrible recession. The boycott and the growing imperial conflict led to rebellions by enslaved Virginians, Indians, and tobacco farmers. By the spring of 1776 the gentry believed the only way to regain control of the common people was to take Virginia out of the British Empire. Forced Founders uses the new social history to shed light on a classic political question: why did the owners of vast plantations, viewed by many of their contemporaries as aristocrats, start a revolution? As Holton's fast-paced narrative unfolds, the old story of patriot versus loyalist becomes decidedly more complex. In this provocative reinterpretation of one of the best-known events in American history, Woody Holton shows that when Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and other elite joined their peers from other colonies in declaring independence from Britain, they acted partly in response to grassroots rebellions against their own rule. The Virginia gentry's efforts to shape London's imperial policy were thwarted by British merchants and by a coalition of Indian nations. In 1774, elite Virginians suspended trade with Britain in order to pressure Parliament and, at the same time, to save restive Virginia debtors from a terrible recession. The boycott and the growing imperial conflict led to rebellions by enslaved Virginians, Indians, and tobacco farmers. By the spring of 1776 the gentry believed the only way to regain control of the common people was to take Virginia out of the British Empire. Forced Founders uses the new social history to shed light on a classic political question: why did the owners of vast plantations, viewed by many of their contemporaries as aristocrats, start a revolution? As Holton's fast-paced narrative unfolds, the old story of patriot versus loyalist becomes decidedly more complex. - Back cover. Contents 10 Acknowledgments 8 List of Illustrations 11 Abbreviations 12 Introduction 14 PART I. GRIEVANCES, 1763–1774 24 1 Land Speculators versus Indians and the Privy Council 26 2 Tobacco Growers versus Merchants and Parliament 62 PART II. BOYCOTTS, 1769–1774 98 3 Nonimportation 100 4 Nonexportation 129 PART III. UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, 1775–1776 154 5 Free Virginians versus Slaves and Governor Dunmore 156 6 Gentlemen versus Farmers 187 PART IV. INDEPENDENCE, 1776 212 7 Spirit of the People 214 Epilogue 229 Index 244 A 244 B 244 C 245 D 246 E 246 F 247 G 247 H 247 I 248 J 248 K 248 L 248 M 249 N 250 O 250 P 250 Q 251 R 251 S 252 T 253 U 254 V 254 W 254 Y 254 Introduction Part one : Grievances, 1763-1774. Land speculators versus Indians and the Privy Council Tobacco growers versus merchants and Parliament Part two : Boycotts, 1769-1774. Nonimportation Nonexportation Part three : Unintended consequences, 1775-1776. Free Virginians versus slaves and Governor Dunmore Gentlemen versus farmers Part four : Independence, 1776. Spirit of the people Epilogue "In this provocative reinterpretation of one of the best-known events in American history, Woody Holton shows that when Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and other elite Virginians joined their peers from other colonies in declaring independence from Britain, they acted partly in response to grassroots rebellions against their own rule."--BOOK JACKET.