This has been so much fun and everybody give yourselves around applause. You are all bill of rights rock stars so well you good job. Thank you so much. Thank you for hosting trivia game, madison. I feel like i did pretty i love it. It a good game. All right. Well see you all time by good afternoon, ladies. Gentlemen, welcome to historic St Johns Church, a National Historic landmark and welcome to our liberty or death reenactment. We have been producing reenactments here since the 1970s, and we are delighted that you have chosen to spend part of your day with us today as reverend wilmer mentioned, my name is steven wilson. I serve as the executive director for the St Johns Church foundation. We are a50 1 to 3 Nonprofit Organization that has been around since 1938. Weve been a minute our mission is twofold. It is education. It is Historic Preservation. We tell the story of the Second Virginia Convention and the importance of Patrick Henry. We do this through our Educational Programs like the one that youre about to see. And we also preserve this historic site. I mentioned a minute ago that this is a National Historic landmark. It is also the Oldest Church in the city of richmond. It dates all way back to 1741. The Public Cemetery that is outside is the oldest Public Cemetery in the city of richmond. So your participation in todays program does help our organization not only preserve the site, but it helps us achieve our mission. So thank you all for being here. I have one housekeeping rule for you, and thats and then well start the show. We would ask that you not during the performance report video or take photographs some of you probably heard me say when you came in that this is being filmed today. Cspan here today, they are filming this reenactment. It will be aired on their American History tv. So well make sure that we notify everybody when we know that air date. Thats all have for you. Enjoy the show. But im going to turn things over to peyton randolph. He is the president of the convention. Welcome again to St Johns Church in beautiful richmond on this lovely, warm, you know, on the day that weve provided just because those people. But we appreciate you coming here and supporting this institution. And i hope enjoy yourselves today. My name is Peter Randolph and today i am introducing the rest of the program. But before i want to do that, i want to talk about a couple of rules that we have here now mentioned the recording. I dont think thats going to be a problem today. Nevertheless, if you have anything that can record video, audio photography, turn those devices off at this time, also try to silence anything that might make a noise, buzz or kind of ringing that might disturb your fellow guests or your fellow here today. Another thing is that for safety of all those who are the building, we ask that the doors for the views remain open during the entire presentation. So if you have if you have closed the boxes, please open those at those time. Sure, they remain so long as youre in the building, that is simply for your safety in the event that the redcoats arrive here and they need to vacate the building, we need to make sure that happens in the safest and most efficient way possible. So please, if that happens, look to the delegates or the staff closest to you to help you remove from the building safely. I also ask that you remember while you were in here that this is not only a very church, but it is still an active church, one which is used today. And i ask that you remember to treat it as such. The dealers in front of you are not for your the people who worship here still use those for their prayers in the morning and we ask that you remember, help us be the good stewards of this building by taking care of the prayer and hymnals that you might have found near you in the boxes as well. Thats about it, i guess for those i guess the church i would actually also ask you to ask you to to remove your headgear if youre wearing a hat today as well. Now, heres the most important thing of all. How many people in here with show of hands like gifts. Is that it gifts really. Well, you all are love because we have the best gift shop in town right here in the property just down the hill at our 1835 sunday school house. So if you enjoyed this program and you want to keep this institution and help support us. Then think about us in our gift shop afterwards. Thats another way you can support the Historic Preservation of very important site that youre all in today, that said, i want to start the process of getting us back in time to the convention. So i wanted to describe to you a little bit about what this building and what town looked like at the time. Back in 1607, the Virginia Company here and settles jamestown. But even before they do that, they deserve a date determined that there has to be a trading post along the fall line. This is the falls of the james river from ships cant pass. That means they have to have warehouses here that can store goods until they can be put on the larger ships. So theres a trading post in this area as early as 1608, by 1737, there is a population of nearly 200 english colonists at that time. William byrd, the second land owner here, is asked by the by the to to set aside some of his land town and he does that beginning in 1737, starting right here on this wharf which was the Northeast Corner of town at that time also the highest point, an elevation on william bridge property. This remains the highest point in richmond today. William byrd would have looked from this site south of east towards the river. He would seen to take a great swooping bend that reminded him of a place in england where he had an called richmond on the thames and so when he found this town in 1737, he will call it richmond on the james and weve been richmond ever since but even before the town is completed. Theres need for a church because there is no religious freedom in virginia that time, nor is there a separation of church and state. If you live here, you are subject not only to the king of england but also to his church. You are bound by law not only to tie up the church of england, but also to attend services in person, at least 12 times a year, which is of course, better than the 15 times we have been going in jamestown. Dont complain. Nevertheless, if they are going to require church attendance, there has to be when the parish will begin to ask william bird for some land. He will agree by 1740 to set aside the south half of this block to town. Lots of an acre in total for a church yard. And he will allow to allow them to remove as much as they can from the hill with which to build their church. And thats where you are right now. The 1741 henrico parish church. So what do you think. Is a nice. Yes, its just the right church for a Frontier Town of 200 people. So the original church, of course, is here, but its its only a small portion of what you see has grown around you. When i said that youre in that church for most of you, thats fact, not you. If youre beyond three pews. Im sorry. Youre still outside. Can look in the windows. You in front . Well, 1741 church was 60 feet in length and 25 feet wide, much smaller than todays church. It was slightly shorter and flat and ceiling all the boxes were in pews like these ones. The door is there on the west, the altar there, the east. Its very simple, modest building with plain glass windows on all the side, much more austere than what you can see. Its grown up around by 1770 or so, there are nearly 600 People Living in richmond, and so now we need more space and in 1772 of the First Edition was built in the north that takes in all the seats here in the center, all you people in the Center Welcome you guys in the corners. Sorry youre still outside. Youre going to have to wait until 1829. So just look in the wings right. Thats when those buildings are white. In 1772, its just the centerpiece here. And the original section, the shape of a capital t, the pews fit at that time, roughly 130 souls, which is just large enough for the delegates to, come here for the Second Virginia Convention in march of 1775 and to you more about that. I am at this point going to turn you over to the gentleman from albemarle county, mr. Thomas jefferson. Good afternoon. Back in march of 1775, when this convention place, the capital, virginia, is still located down in williamsburg. So you may wonder, why did this meeting take place here in . Richmond instead of there . And the answer is quite simple. Lord dunmore, who was the royal governor of virginia at the time, had dissolved the house of burgesses, and as he was against this extra legal meeting, the meeting was moved here to richmond to be away from the governors power. You see the 50 miles that separate richmond and williamsburg would provide ample time for the delegates and the attendees of the convention to disperse should the governor decide that he wanted to send troops. Now, as andrew mentioned, the town of, richmond at that time was a small town of about 600 souls. And henrico parish church. This building here was the only building larger to handle all of the delegates who would be arriving from all over the state, not to mention myles selden, who was the rector of henrico parish at the time, was sympathetic to the colony of course, now may wonder, why would these men take such an extraordinary measure . Well john adams observed that the real revolution takes place in the hearts, the minds of the people before the real fighting ever begins. And so the separation between england and her colonies had been growing over quite a period of time, not allowing westward expansion. The passing of the stamp act and the towns in that but most of all refusal of parliament to to the pleas of the colony east had driven the colonies more and more defiance. The boston massacre led to the boston tea party, which led england to pass the intolerable acts. So so the port of boston up in massachusetts it was closed outright to assembly was being denied english, were being housed in private homes and outright to a jury of our peers was being denied in many many cases you see the rights our forefathers had brought with them from england were at. Now one of the key questions of that time was who had the right to tax colonies was it our own elected government or was it parliament in which we had no representation . You see, in 1774, lord dunmore had dissolved the house of burgesses, leaving virginia with no effective government. And so it was in these somber times that the leaders of virginia decided to meet here in richmond and right here in this church. Peyton randolph was elected president of the Convention Just as he had served as president for the First Continental Congress the summer before, among the men in attendance at this convention were George Patrick henry Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry lee. These were the elites of virginia they were the elected officials from their counties in the house of burgesses. Now here in virginia, we are and always been proud of the fact that the house of burgesses was the first elected state legislative in the western world, having been in place since 1690. And it still meets today here in richmond as the house of delegates. But back then, membership in the house of burgesses was restricted to white men only who owned a great deal of land. And so we must admit and acknowledge that many of these men enslaved people to work that land or benefited from the practice. And so you may ask yourself, how did these men reckon sail that conflict of fighting for their own liberty against the king and against parliament, while at the same time denying liberty to other people . Now you hear that contradiction in mr. Henry speech today when he refers to england threatening the colony is with chains and slavery and in fact, in 1773, Patrick Henry himself wrote who would believe that i am the master of slaves of my own purchase. I, i will not condone. And yet mr. Henry and many others lived with that contradict and the benefits that it afforded them. But in this moment in time as they came together here the most important question in their minds was how do we address the aggression of england and parliament and the mistreatment that we are receiving . Is virginia ready to step up and do whats necessary and we will find that answer today. So were going to go back in time. Im going to assume the role of Thomas Jefferson of albemarle county. And you are going to assume the role of the delegates from your county and what that means is. You are encouraged to vote on any resolution or business that comes before this body. If you hear that you like, you say, here, here are well said, sir. We hope and expect that youll participate. Now, i am told that mr. Henry is going to propose a today that is going to put you in front of all of us a very difficult a choice between liberty and allegiance to the king. So now is the time to go back in time and to our roles. So those in favor of ringing the church bell and calling this Convention Order respond by saying, i those opposed nay, the is have it, ring the bell and look to convention, begin. Good afternoon, mr. And mr. Henry. Mr. Harrison harrison. Youre all order. I let us consider this proceedings begun. I will begin with the beating of the mets of yesterday. The minutes of wednesday, march 22, 1775. The delegates, according to german, pursuant to order the convention, resumed consideration of the citizens last years Continental Congress and passed the following resolution resolved unanimously that this convention accordingly approves the resolutions of the american continental and considers this whole as under the highest obligation to have a respectable body for the wisdom of their council resolved unanimously that Member States of this convention are due to the honorable and wealthy delegates who represented this colony in general. Counsel for the faithful of the very important trust reposed in them. You then draw attention today at 10 00. Mr. President. Mr. Thomas Jefferson Jones from albemarle county. I move that the minutes is read. We approved and adopted. I second mr. President , your motion has been moved seconded those in favor of adopting the resolutions to the minutes well signify by saying i all those opposed the matter. Dr. Now, we may begin the day with any new mr. President. Mr. Cobb. Mr. Mr. Cathcart, the gentleman from out of town, sir, i beg leave to offer the following resolutions. You may proceed to. Resolved that a wellregulated militia militia comes close. The gentleman and yeoman is the only security and the natural defense of a free government. Here, here. Thats up to militia in this colony would forever preclude the Mother Company country from keeping among us a Standing Army of mercenary forces and would obviate the pretext of taxing us for their support. Come on, mr. Henry hopes that establishment of such a militia is at this time peculiarly necessary for the protection and defense of the country, and the known religiousness of the government, and calling us together in a legislated capacity renders it too insecure. In this time of danger and distress to revive it, any provision would be made to secure our rights and liberties from those further violations. With which they are threatened. But sir, your stories all there all resolved. Therefore, that this colony would be put immediately into a posture of defense and that a committee be named by this convention to prepare a plan for embodying, arming and disciplining a number of men as may be for the purpose we must be patient. But there is not yet chance whose patience our hiatus joe morgan campaign. I like to say the resolutions proposed by joseph and over i think your time and i thank you for your second mr. Lee be rash sir this is nothing of a declaration of war. We must remain loyal to the kings. You know, many proper will take. But i think it will take place. The circus right here. Here i am not great advice. One part about the whole proof to pay for this officer. We used but an actual likeness maybe some protection for habitation. Were being told no i need. But the british general run all as such full responsibility for the cause very well i have no man a proper into the game. I aint got to play war with mother here, here all always. But gentlemen. Come to our high street. We have come out. She will be back baggage her. And the war the medical problem calculations they may be, sir, i oh look on. What happened first things that are price is all this world just and people are making so like i these speed cars get this corrupted well spoken you must be Patient First person dont care i desire to raise my voice opposition to the adoption the resolutions at this time here i consider them rash and poorly time. I then report from england as all know is that our petition to the king passed to the continent of congress has been graciously no sufficient time has passed for a reply come to us. So you well know that mr. Lee has received a reliable report that the king will reject all requests that is merely hearsay. Mr. Lee. Mr. Henry that is merely hearsay. I cannot ask for a french and liberty as any man in this, and indeed you are. And as little disposed to submit, but National Stability and filial respect demands that we do nothing hastily. I offer no provocations. I speak as a plan indeed for the farmers of charles city county, and i deplore steps that would stop the production of tobacco and corn and reduce the people of virginia to starvation starvation. Indeed, sir. And ab