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Henry Laurens Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2005 Crisis manager of the American Revolution: Henry Laurens Jeffrey R. Gudzune West Virginia University Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Gudzune, Jeffrey R., "Crisis manager of the American Revolution: Henry Laurens" (2005). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 773. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/773 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Crisis Manager of the American Revolution: Henry Laurens Jeffrey R Gudzune Thesis submitted to the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in American History Mary Lou Lustig, Ph.D. Kenneth Fones-Wolf, Ph.D. John Super, Ph.D. Department of History Morgantown, West Virginia 2005 Keywords: Henry Laurens, Continental Congress, American Revolution Copyright 2005 Jeffrey R Gudzune ABSTRACT Crisis Manager of the American Revolution: Henry Laurens Jeffrey R Gudzune As President of the Continental Congress, Henry Laurens was a firm leader amid a time of national emergency. When a dispute within the Continental Army threatened both the continuation of General Washington’s command and the American alliance with France, Laurens went beyond his limited sphere of political authority to settle the matter. When a peace commission from England arrived in the United States to begin discussing terms for an end to the hostilities, Laurens found himself in an increasingly difficult diplomatic situation. While wrestling with the question of whether or not to accept the British offer, Laurens was also forced to hold the tenuous union of thirteen sovereign states together amid internal disputes, some of which had spilled over into the national government. Throughout his term, Laurens stood out as an advocate for national unification against the British and contributed an essential service to the American Revolution. iii Table of Contents Introduction...................................................................................................................... 1-3 An Extraordinary Man ................................................................................................... 4-30 A Harsh Winter............................................................................................................ 31-55 Atrophy and the French Alliance................................................................................. 56-78 Foreign and Domestic Affairs.................................................................................... 79-102 A Life in Service...................................................................................................... 103-120 Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 121-122 1 Introduction Henry Laurens did not seek a revolution, nor did he ask to be made President of the Continental Congress in 1777. However, he was elected to the post and helped turn the tide of the American Revolution. When all seemed lost, when the Continental Army was out of funds and fracturing into personal and political chaos, when Congress itself seemed on the verge of atrophy, he took action when action was most needed. At this time, he emerged as a capable leader and crisis manager. Though a stranger to the Continental Congress, Laurens distinguished himself as America’s most powerful advocate during the financial and interpersonal conflicts that faced the young confederation throughout the year 1777. Henry Laurens was effective as a political leader, diplomat, and crisis manager during one of the most crucial years of the American Revolution, 1777-1778. Henry Laurens’ contribution to the cause of American independence cannot be underestimated. As President of the Continental Congress, Laurens led the American Confederation from November of 1777 until his resignation in December of 1778. He guided the agenda of the Continental Congress and served as a conduit through which their deliberations reached the fledging nation. Though he was wary of the dangers inherent in a war with Great Britain, Henry Laurens embraced the task to which he was elected. His most significant contribution to the American Revolution was to stand behind General George Washington amid a controversy which grew from a dispute between Washington and General Thomas Conway. What began as a personal conflict between two generals soon grew to threaten the stability of the Continental Army and posed a danger to the alliance with France. Laurens advocated unity within the Congress 2 at a time when delegations were drifting away from their national responsibilities. To deal with these and other problems during his term in office, Laurens drew on the experiences garnered in his early life in the mercantile industry, as well as his political background in the affairs of South Carolina. While Henry Laurens’ service to the cause of independence is well documented, few historians have gone into detail regarding his political impact while serving as president of the Continental Congress or his later activities. The literature surrounding Laurens and his life do not do justice to the full effect that the man had on the American Revolution. In many books on the subject he is mentioned only in passing. Authors like John Ferling and Joseph Ellis mention Laurens as president of the Continental Congress and then as a prisoner in the Tower of London, but they stop short of outlining his contributions. The main biography of Henry Laurens, David Duncan Wallace’s The Life of Henry Laurens (New York: Russell and Russell, 1915), provides the most vivid detail about the man and his motivations during one of the most tumultuous years of the American Revolution. In this now dated monograph, the author portrays a man of unquestionable abilities, but neglects a detailed account of his actions. While Wallace provides a thorough historical timeline he neglects the overall effect of Laurens’ political decisions. The evidence is presented in Wallace’s argument, but fails to draw the necessary conclusions based on Laurens’ actions. Gregory Massey’s John Laurens and the American Revolution (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2000) looks at Henry Laurens and his relationship with his oldest son. While this book serves as a biography of the younger Laurens, it also includes insight into Henry Laurens and the effect of his political decisions on his 3 personal life. The decisions that shaped Laurens’ political legacy during his tenure as president of Congress were made only after careful reflection on the issues at hand. He did not easily arrive at these decisions as they concerned the future of a new nation. Scholarship regarding Henry Laurens usually presents him as a mediator in the debates of the Continental Congress. His job was to chair the meetings of Congress, and nothing else. As an executive, his authority was ill defined. He most certainly did not possess the vast authority that George Washington would have when he became the first President under the Constitution of the United States. However, Laurens’ private and public correspondence indicates that he was far more than a chairman--he was an active leader who took his responsibilities seriously. Using these sources, it is easy to examine the political development of Henry Laurens from South Carolina merchant into an active proponent of the American Revolution. He did not begin his service to the national government as a committed proponent of revolution. However, as British taxation began to affect his life, Laurens began to change his opinions. To fully understand the man and his motivations it is necessary to examine his early life in South Carolina and the events that surrounded his conversion. This analysis will be a political biography exploring Henry Laurens in the roles of political leader, crisis manager, and diplomat. It is evident from a detailed exploration of his personal and political correspondence that Henry Laurens gradually evolved into a revolutionary figure. There is no example of a specific event that caused his change in thought. Like his evolution into a prosperous merchant, Henry Laurens became a supporter of the American cause only after a series of events corrected the course of his development. 4 Chapter One: An Extraordinary Man Henry Laurens was born in Charles Town, South Carolina on March 6, 1724 to John and Esther Laurens. John Laurens was a prosperous saddler, who had built a successful business that generated a comfortable living for him and his family. His business efforts were so profitable that he was able to retire while still a relatively young man and devote the remainder of his life to public service as a church warden and fire
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