No state loomed larger in the American Revolution than Virginia. From the backcountry battles of the Seven Years' War and the hated Proclamation Line to the pivotal clashes that ejected Lord Dunmore, the last royal governor, from the colony, to the drafting of the founding documents and the conclusion of the war at the Battle of Yorktown, the Virginia experience animated the Revolution.
Encyclopedia Virginia is pleased to present the capstone entry for our National Endowment for the Humanities-funded project on the American Revolution in Virginia. Written by our section editors, Christa Dierksheide, the Brockman Foundation Jefferson Scholars Foundation Professor of History at the University of Virginia, and Woody Holton, the McCausland Professor of History at the University of South Carolina, the entry provides a comprehensive overview of the Revolution in Virginia, from the precursors of the war to its lingering effects in the new Commonwealth.
Read on to learn about the American Revolution in Virginia. When you are done, be sure to play our Virginia History Timeline Game: the American Revolution in Virginia edition.
The American Revolution in Virginia emerged from the colony’s experiences during the Seven Years’ War. In response to parliamentary reforms—including the Proclamation of 1763 and the Stamp Act—Virginians organized protests, boycotts, and inter-colonial political networks such as the Virginia Committee of Correspondence, while also expanding militia activity and
extralegal governance. By summer 1774, disaffected white male freeholders throughout Virginia convened to pass a series of resolves, including the Fairfax Resolves, which asserted their fundamental rights and called for a union of colonists. By summer 1775, Virginia’s last royal governor, John Murray, fourth earl of Dunmore, had fled Williamsburg. By 1776, Virginia was at the forefront of the independence movement.
In case you missed it, check out our fascinating conversation with historians Eliga Gould, Linda Monk, and Steven Sarson as they discuss the founding documents and their unique relationships to Virginia.
The Battle of Gwynn’s Island, also known as the Battle of Cricket Hill, was fought on July 9–10, 1776, between Patriot forces and the forces of Virginia’s last royal governor, John Murray, fourth earl of Dunmore. The battle ended Dunmore’s attempt to maintain a military foothold in Virginia and effectively marked the collapse of royal authority in the colony during the American Revolution.
