What Motivated the Southern Colonies to Join the American Revolution?

Photo credit: www.smithsonianmag.com

How a disagreement with a Scottish lord over westward expansion, a cache of gunpowder, and the future of enslaved labor helped kick-start the southern colonies’ embrace of the radical cause

Andrew Lawler

Illustrations by Cannaday Chapman

April/May 2025

While the battles of Lexington and Concord are often recognized as the ignition point of the American Revolution in April 1775, a lesser-known yet highly significant incident unfolded just days later, nearly 500 miles south. This event catalyzed the southern colonies’ commitment to independence and involved many key figures in the fight for freedom.

The story begins with Patrick Henry, who successfully rallied Virginia’s wealthy tobacco planters—some of the largest landowners in the Thirteen Colonies—to form a militia. This bold move left Virginia’s royal governor, Lord Dunmore, in a precarious position. A Scottish earl appointed by King George III, Dunmore was invested in local plantations, had enslaved Africans under his control, and had ambitions for land in the west, particularly in the Ohio Valley, alongside his acquaintance George Washington, who at the time had aspirations for territorial expansion.

As the fervor for independence grew with Henry’s powerful proclamation of “Give me liberty, or give me death!” news from Boston had reached the crown revealing that the New Englanders had seized military supplies. In response, Dunmore sought to secure the gunpowder stored in Williamsburg’s Powder Magazine, an architectural gem in the town square. However, the burgeoning militia had stationed guards to protect these vital supplies, which drew Dunmore’s suspicion.

In the early hours of April 21, 1775, severe winds displaced the sentries, leaving the powder store vulnerable. Noticing this opportunity, Dunmore ordered a covert operation, deploying Royal Navy marines under the cover of darkness to confiscate the ammunition. By the time the alarm was raised by a vigilant citizen, it was too late; the marines had whisked away their prize, sending shockwaves through the locality.

The surgeon and town council member William Pasteur, sympathetic to the patriot cause, was awakened by the unrest in the streets. An agitated crowd had gathered outside Dunmore’s residence, threatening violence. Dunmore, fearing for his life, claimed his actions were intended to prevent an uprising of the enslaved population, thereby asserting that he was acting in the colonists’ best interests. This assertion, however, did little to quell suspicions and anger among the white populace.

In the aftermath, feelings of resentment towards Dunmore intensified. Leadership figures like Peyton Randolph, the president of the Continental Congress, attempted to dampen the situation by crafting a narrative that portrayed the governor’s promise to return the powder as a conciliatory gesture. Yet, amid rising tensions, Dunmore’s alarmist rhetoric about potential slave revolts only served to stoke the fears of the colonists, exacerbating divisions in an already fraught atmosphere.

As the news spread, patriot militias mobilized from Fredericksburg, demanding action against Dunmore. They sought support from the well-respected military strategist George Washington, who chose to remain silent. His motivations included personal interests in land expansion, as he did not want to jeopardize his financial prospects by supporting a direct confrontation with the governor of Virginia.

The escalating tensions brought Virginia to a tipping point. Henry seized this opportunity to engage with local farmers and tenants who traditionally aligned with royalist sentiment. Understanding their grievances about losing their arms and military supplies, Henry mobilized support by framing the powder affair as an affront to their rights and safety. He painted the incident as a precursor to disarmament and oppression at the hands of British forces, which resonated deeply with these communities.

On May 3, 1775, Henry inspired over a hundred men to march toward Williamsburg, highlighting the theft of the gunpowder as part of a broader systemic effort to subjugate the people of Virginia. Confronted with this unexpected surge of armed citizens, Dunmore attempted to negotiate by assuring Henry of compensation for the stolen powder. After some tense discussions, Henry acquiesced, marking an end to the immediate crisis.

This compromise, though seemingly resolved, foreshadowed deeper discord. Dunmore’s wielding of the emancipation threat would have consequences far beyond that moment, effectively igniting further hostilities. His later proclamation offering freedom to enslaved individuals willing to fight for the British amplified the complexity of the conflict, driving many Southern planters into the revolutionary camp.

As Dunmore’s actions forced even the most hesitant patriots to take sides, this marked a crucial transition. Virginia’s leaders eventually pushed for independence, culminating in a united stance among the colonies that led to the adoption of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. The impact of this incident reverberated throughout the colonies, transforming the dynamic of the Revolutionary War and leading to a greater acceptance of formerly enslaved soldiers in the Continental Army.

The events surrounding the gunpowder incident at Williamsburg serve as a testament to how local tensions and leadership maneuvers can reshape historical trajectories. They highlight the intersection of race, power, and rebellion that defined the early American struggle for independence. As the revolution unfolded, the issues of freedom and equality continued to echo in the collective memory, eventually influencing later movements for liberation and civil rights in the United States.

Source
www.smithsonianmag.com