History of Maryland

The history of Maryland could be said to have begun circa 10,000 BC, when the first people arrived in what would later become the U.S. State of Maryland. Native Americans were the sole inhabitants of the area for thousands of years until Europeans, starting with John Cabot in 1498, began exploring the area. However, it wasn't until the 1600s that Europeans began settling the area, and not until 1632 that the colony itself was founded and named.

The Revolutionary Period

See also: History of the United States (1776-1789)

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Maryland did not at first favor independence from Great Britain and gave instructions to that effect to its delegates to the Continental Congress. During this initial phase of the revolutionary period, Maryland was governed by the Assembly of Freemen, an Assembly of the state's counties. The first convention lasted four days, from June 22 to June 25, 1774. All sixteen counties were represented by a total of 92 members who elected Matthew Tilghman as their chair.

Related Topics:
Continental Congress - Assembly of Freemen - Counties - June 22 - June 25 - Matthew Tilghman

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The eighth session decided that the continuation of an ad-hoc government by the convention was not a good mechanism for all the concerns of the province. A more permanent and structured government was needed. So, on July 3, 1776 they resolved that a new convention be elected that would be responsible for drawing up their first state constitution, one that did not refer to parliament or the king, but would be a government "...of the people only." After they set dates and prepared notices to the counties they adjourned. On August 1 all freemen with property elected delegates for the last convention. The ninth and last convention was also known as the Constitutional Convention of 1776. They drafted a constitution, and when they adjourned on November 11th, they would not meet again. The Conventions were replaced by the new state government which the Maryland Constitution of 1776 had established. Thomas Johnson became the state's first elected governor.

Related Topics:
July 3 - State constitution - August 1 - Constitutional Convention of 1776 - Maryland Constitution of 1776 - Thomas Johnson

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On March 1, 1781 the Articles of Confederation took effect with Maryland's ratification. The articles had initially been submitted to the states on November 17 1777 but the ratification process dragged on for several years, stalled by an interstate quarrel over claims to uncolonized land in the west. Maryland was the last hold-out; it refused to ratify until Virginia and New York agreed to rescind their claims to lands in the Ohio River valley. All of the colonies rebelling against Britain ratified it by 1781.

Related Topics:
March 1 - 1781 - Articles of Confederation - November 17 - 1777 - Maryland - Virginia - New York - Ohio River

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No significant Battles of the American Revolutionary War occurred in Maryland. However, this did not prevent the state's soldiers from distinguishing themselves through their service. General George Washington was impressed with the Maryland regulars who fought in the Continental Army and, according to some historians, this lead him to bestow the name "Old Line State" on Maryland http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/nickname.html. Today, the Old Line State is one of Maryland's two official nicknames.

Related Topics:
Battles of the American Revolutionary War - General - George Washington - Continental Army

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The state also filled other roles during the war. For instance, the Continental Congress met briefly in Baltimore from December 20, 1776 through March 4, 1777. Furthermore, a Marylander, John Hanson, served as President of the Continental Congress from 1781 to 1782. Hanson was the first person to serve a full term as President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation. (He is thus sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "First President of the United States".)

Related Topics:
Continental Congress - Baltimore - December 20 - 1776 - March 4 - 1777 - John Hanson - President of the Continental Congress - 1781 - 1782

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From November 26, 1783 to June 3, 1784, Annapolis served as the United States capital and the Continental Congress met in the Maryland State House. (Annapolis was a candidate to become the new nation's permanent capital before Washington, D.C. was built). It was in the old senate chamberhttp://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/stagser/s1259/131/html/oldsenat.html that George Washington famously resigned his commission as commander in chief of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783. It was also there that the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, was ratified by Congress on January 14, 1784.

Related Topics:
November 26 - 1783 - June 3 - 1784 - Continental Congress - Maryland State House - Washington, D.C. - George Washington - Commander in chief - December 23 - Treaty of Paris - Revolutionary War - January 14

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