Getting Hammered® #Todayin1776: Congress Debates Trade With Other Countries
Feb 17, 2026
Notes from February 1776 capture a fierce debate about opening colonial ports to foreign trade during wartime. Speakers argue for limited trade, robust wartime commerce, or holding off until treaties. The conversation touches on privateering, building a fleet, and whether commerce forces a shift from subject to independent identity.
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Trade As A Step Toward Nationhood
- Opening ports to foreign nations is a quiet step toward acting like an independent country and secures vital supplies during war.
- John Adams' notes show delegates wrestled with legal character, risks to ships, and the need for treaties to protect commerce.
Let Merchants Decide And Incentivize Trade
- Let merchants judge risk and continue trade in wartime to keep commerce alive and bring ships home.
- Consider inviting foreigners or issuing letters of marque to protect and incentivize maritime returns.
Trade Drives Military Logistics
- Without opening trade, seamen abroad won't return and produce won't reach markets, creating shortages and funding problems.
- Delegates saw trade policy as essential to sustaining armies and preventing enemy supply advantages.