page_title: History of Virginia on stamps
section_title: Revolution and Constitution
hierarchical_section_title: History of Virginia on stamps / Events and eras / Revolution and Constitution
caption_attribution_description: US Postage stamp, Washington at Brooklyn, 1951 Issue, 3c
context_page_description: The history of Virginia through the colonial period on into contemporary times has been depicted and commemorated on postage stamps accounting for many important personalities, places and events involving the nation's history. Themes are particularly rich in early American and new nation history, historical landmarks, and Virginia-born presidents.
context_section_description: Revolution
  Patrick Henry was a leader in the Virginia House of Burgesses who opposed Britain imposing restrictions on the American colonies. Virginia petitioned the King and Parliament for redress without success. Following his attending the First Continental Congress, Henry's resolves in the second Virginia Convention were published in the Virginia Gazette and widely reprinted in other colonial papers, influencing other colonial legislatures.
  Patrick Henry was featured on the 1-dollar value of the Liberty Series issued October 7, 1955. He served as governor for three terms, but is best known for his speech as a delegate, "Give me liberty or give me death." He wrote and published profusely over his lifetime. The portrait by Alonzo Chappel inspired the image of Henry captured in the stamp's "simple picture frame effect". 
  Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, was honored with a 5-cent stamp at the onset of the American Civil War. The stamp was used in combinations for postage to France and other foreign destinations. The National Bank Note company printed approximately 175,000 of this Classic Period stamp in several shades. The signing of the Declaration of Independence was commemorated with a 24-cent stamp in 1869. The stamp reproduces John Trumbull's painting in the U.S. Capitol rotunda, in an image 1/300th the size of the original. The National Bank Note Company printed 235,350 stamps of this 24-cent issue. In the Second Continental Congress, George Washington was unanimously elected to lead the Continental Army besieging Boston. He personally commanded campaigns in the north.
  Washington saving his army at Brooklyn was commemorated on a 3-cent stamp at the 175th anniversary on December 10, 1951. The vignette shows Washington directing troops at Fulton Ferry house. Troops in the background are seen crossing the East River.
  Major George Rogers Clark commanded Virginia rangers capturing Vincennes in the western theater. The George Rogers Clark issue of February 25, 1929 commemorated the 150th anniversary of the British surrender in 1779 at Vincennes, Indiana. The U.S. conquest of the Northwest Territory led to extending its boundary west to the Mississippi River by the Treaty of Paris (1783). The stamp's vignette was inspired by a painting by Frederick C. Yohn, "Surrender of Fort Sackville".
  The climatic battle of the Revolutionary War was the Battle of Yorktown which led to the Treaty of Paris (1783) recognizing U.S. independence by Great Britain. Washington was assisted by French troops under General Rochambeau, guns and a French naval victory under Admiral DeGrasse.
  The Revolutionary War in Virginia was commemorated by a pair of 18-cent stamps on October 16, 1981, at Yorktown Virginia. The designer was Cal Sacks of Westport, Connecticut. 
  The Battle of the Virginia Capes USPS stamp can be seen at Arago, Virginia Capes 1781 stamp The sea battle was fought September 5, 1781 between the French under Admiral Comte Grasse protecting a supply convoy to Washington, against the British fleet under Admiral Sir Thomas Graves attempting to relieve Cornwallis.
  The Battle of Yorktown USPS stamp can be seen at Arago, Yorktown 1781 stamp. The land battle was a joint operation between General Washington and General Rochambeau laying siege to the British under General Cornwallis at Yorktown. Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781. It was the final battle of the American Revolution.
  Constitution and beginnings
  The first written U.S. constitution was the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles, Virginia ceded its claim to territory north of the Ohio River to the United States Government to form the Northwest Territory. There was no independent executive branch or judicial branch, only Congress. The Constitution of the United States was written in an effort to form a more effective national government, with George Washington elected unanimously to be the president of the Constitutional Convention, and James Madison known as the "Father of the Constitution".
  The Articles of Confederation 200th ann
caption: Washington at Brooklyn
  1951 issue
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