Newburgh letter
Encyclopedia
On 1782-05-22, the Newburgh letter was sent to George Washington
who was camped at Newburgh, New York; written for the army officers by Colonel
Lewis Nicola
, it proposed that Washington should become the King of the United States
. Washington reacted very strongly against the suggestion, and was greatly troubled by it.
The letter could in many ways have been a turning point in American history; in revolutionary France, ambitious Napoleon
accepted a similar offer when presented to him by Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès
. Nicola's proposal, while never fully formed, would not be suggesting tyranny, he rejected how others equated monarchy
and tyranny, but instead a constitutional monarchy
. The letter can be considered part of the Newburgh conspiracy
, and indeed the first grievance Nicola highlights is the lack of adequate payment for troops.
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
who was camped at Newburgh, New York; written for the army officers by Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Lewis Nicola
Lewis Nicola
Lewis Nicola was an army officer in the American army during the American Revolutionary War. He was brevetted brigadier general in 1783...
, it proposed that Washington should become the King of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Washington reacted very strongly against the suggestion, and was greatly troubled by it.
The letter could in many ways have been a turning point in American history; in revolutionary France, ambitious Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
accepted a similar offer when presented to him by Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès , commonly known as Abbé Sieyès, was a French Roman Catholic abbé and clergyman, one of the chief theorists of the French Revolution, French Consulate, and First French Empire...
. Nicola's proposal, while never fully formed, would not be suggesting tyranny, he rejected how others equated monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
and tyranny, but instead a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
. The letter can be considered part of the Newburgh conspiracy
Newburgh conspiracy
The Newburgh Conspiracy was unrest in 1783 among officers of the American Continental Army due to many officers and men of the Army not receiving pay for many years. Commander-in-Chief George Washington stopped any serious talk by appealing successfully to his officers to support the supremacy of...
, and indeed the first grievance Nicola highlights is the lack of adequate payment for troops.
External links
- Image of Nicola's letter (American Memory, Library of Congress)
- Text and audio of Washington's response
- Essay by Robert F. Haggard on the affair