On the eve of the American Revolution williamsburg, virginia, was a bustling capital city, home to a large enslaved population. American history tv returns to the williamsburg at the 1770s where we are live from the historic district. We will see revolutionaries and loyalists mingle on the streets. The house of burgesses, where George Washington once served, and the Governors Palace, home to king george. We will also be taking your questions as we talked to historians, curators, and interpreters that will all be aboard the cspan bust today. Joining us is Colonial Williamsburg president mitchell reiss. Thank you for being here this morning, i appreciate it. Williamsburg president mitchell reiss. Thank you for being here this morning, i appreciate it. Mitchell my pleasure. For someone who has never visited Colonial Williamsburg, how do you describe it . Mitchell well, i think it is important for people to know it is more than the sum of its parts. You have 88 buildings that have you have
Starting in jamestown in 1619. Thenly moving to what was middle plantation. Renamed for the king, king william. By 1704 the Capital Building had been built on this spot. It finally burned down in 1747. That foundingspot learned to be representative of the people. While this is a story of virginia and its history. It is a history of the entire united states. A part of our common heritage of citizens. This was the very first government building ever to be theyred to as a capital lost four statehouses to fire. It was the lower house of the assembly. Just like the house of commons in london this is where all money bills had to originate. During the 18th century there would be to burgesses for every county, one burgess for the college of william and mary, and one for jamestown and williamsburg. This became the centerpiece, the birthplace of the american protest against the stamp act. Before we get into that, let me quickly point out a few things. Not only did you have members of the house s
Welcome to the Capitol Building here at colonial williamsburg. The General Assembly of the colony of virginia met first at jamestown starting in 1619. They would meet in jamestown for 80 years, finally moving to what was then known as Middle Plantation and renamed for the king, king william, as williamsburg. By 1704 the Capitol Building had been built on this spot. This is a reconstruction of the first Capitol Building. And it would be here from 1704 finally burning down in 1747, rebuilt by 1753 and used until 1779. It is on this spot that Founding Fathers like Patrick Henry, George Washington and thomas jefferson, learned to be representatives of the people. So while this building is a story of virginia and its history, it is in a far greater sense the history of the entire United States of america. Its story is part of our common heritage as citizens. This was the very first government building ever to be referred to as a capitol. Prior to this, down at jamestown, they called the gov