How a Jewish Patriot Saved the American Revolution

The Coach's Team ^ | 6/12/16 | Susan Frickey

[Oldpuppymax]

During the Revolutionary War, our new nation faced a financial crisis. The colonies had no money to pay for the war and the prospects of raising funds were dismal, at best.

Colonial troops had not been paid the money due them, so protests ensued. Some officers even surrounded the Continental Congress and held it for ransom, trying to get what was promised the troops for years of hardship, struggle and deprivation. Our young country was very near imploding after all the years of bloodshed, sacrifice and valiant commitment to the dream of liberty.

Enter Robert Morris: the richest man in America who would later become known as “The Financier of the Revolution.” Alarmed by the situation, he met with General George Washington about raising money to pay for the war. Morris brought along his friend, Haym Salomon. These two largely unknown patriots sacrificed their entire personal fortunes to save the fledgling United States from an early and certain doom and died paupers for having done so.

Haym Salomon was born the son of a rabbi in Poland in 1740. Growing up, his family was persecuted for being Jewish. He traveled all over Europe for ten years only to find that Jews were persecuted in every country he visited. In spite of this, he managed to earn an international reputation as an exceptionally skilled banker, merchant and financial broker, fluent in eight languages.

In 1775 Haym immigrated to America hoping to find a place where Jews were not persecuted. He established himself in New York City as a financial broker for merchants engaged in overseas trade.

Haym was overcome with joy in the new atmosphere of liberty that was fostered in the colonies. He enthusiastically joined the New York branch of the Sons of Liberty. In Sept 1776, he was arrested...

[rktman]

There was a 30 minute short many years ago about this in black and white. Turns out my dad’s 2nd cousin wrote the screenplay for it. Can’t remember the title. Cuz also wrote “Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima”.

[SoCal Pubbie]

I heard about this early Jewish American on George Putnam’s Talkback radio program on KIEV (now KRLA) in Los Angeles twenty five years ago.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Oldpuppymax.

[SJackson]

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And like Haym Salomon, who worked with Morris, he died broke. In Morris' case poor investments in later life, in the case of Soloman who died in the 1780s, the inability of state and private borrowers to repay their war debts. Many prominent folk of the time lost money in land speculation with Morris, and he was probably the reason for our first bankruptcy act in 1800 which got him out of jail. For his debts.

[SJackson]

Since the headline and excerpt is unclear, Robert Morris wasn’t Jewish, they’re referring to Haym Salomon.

[Blennos]

Haym Salomon was one of the Founding Fathers. A great patriot.

[BroJoeK]

The important point to remember about Jewish contributions to the American Revolution is not that they were the largest -- both the Dutch and especially the French eventually sent far more.

But Jews were the first foreign investors in the American Revolution, money that arrived at a critical moment in 1779, preventing total collapse.
It was just enough to hold Americans together until larger amounts arrived from Europe.

Also Haym Salomon died in 1785, before the new Federal Government consolidated all the states' war debts to make good on them.
So he was never fully repaid.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BroJoeK.

Haym Salomon
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9559289

[snip] Superintendent of Finances Robert Morris started the Bank of North America, but in order for it to be successful, required men like Salomon to subscribe to the bank, find purchasers for government bills of exchange, and lend their own money to the government. When Haym Salomon died in January 1785, he held $353,000, largely in depreciated certificates of indebtedness and continental currency, all which were virtually worthless. The Pennsylvania Packet wrote “He was remarkable for his skill and integrity in his profession and for his generous and humane deportment.” (bio by: Maude) Inscription: “An American Patriot” [/snip]

Haym Salomon Memorial Park
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=641306

[SunkenCiv]

Robert Morris
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=739

[snip] Declaration of Independence Signer, Continental Congressman, US Senator, United States Constitution Singer. Served as a Delegate from PA in the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1778. Signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Elected to the US Senate from PA, serving from 1789 to 1795. One of the richest men in America at the time of the Rebellion; known as the “Financier of the Revolution”. His involvement in unsuccessful land speculation caused him to be imprisoned from debt from 1798 to 1801. His son Thomas Morris served as a Congressman from New York. [/snip]

[SunkenCiv]

"Nonsense! Moslems Founded America!"

[Fiddlstix]

Bookmark

[Albion Wilde]

bump

[Sans-Culotte]

There was a 30 minute short many years ago about this in black and white. Turns out my dad’s 2nd cousin wrote the screenplay for it. Can’t remember the title. Cuz also wrote “Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima”.

It was called "Sons of Liberty" and was in color. Claude Rains played Salomon. It can be found on the Blu-Ray or DVD of the Errol Flynn film "Dodge City".

[rktman]

Yes. That is the one. Thanks. I’ll have to look it back up again when I get a chance. I thought it was black and white. LOL! Maybe it was for me.

[rktman]

Just checked and apparently he won an Oscar for the screenplay. Pretty cool.

[Albion Wilde]

I passed by both their graves many, many times when I lived in the colonial part of Philadelphia. Great patriots.

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031953/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_38

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031953/mediaviewer/rm3009537536?ref_=tt_ov_i

https://www.ovguide.com/sons-of-liberty-9202a8c04000641f8000000008e009b2

http://livemovies.online/watch/123833-sons-of-liberty

http://watch.realmovie.website/movies/373895-sons-of-liberty

[Sans-Culotte]

I had never heard of Salomon until I saw that short on the Dodge City disc. Warner does some cool features on DVDs and Blu-rays called “Warner Night at the Movies”. They set up a program with all the shorts, cartoons, etc that would have accompanied the original film.

[SunkenCiv]

$325K was *real* money back then, a lifetime of easy living, at least. I’m glad he has been honored after his life was done.