Robert Morris Accomplishments

Robert Morris is a name usually left out of textbooks and the classroom. To most, that name has never been heard, and those few that have come across it, deemed it insignificant. Who was this man and why should he have been labeled an important historical figure? The truth is, he was a leading figure in the development of American government and was involved in the signing of many important documents. Morris was, in fact, a very influential man that helped America develop it’s form of identity, despite his many obstacles.
Acquaintances of Mr. Morris would describe him as a scholarly man with a knack for money. He was a heavy set man with white hair and a receding hair line. Some people were fooled by his image, but he portrayed so much confidence

He is one of only two men who signed three of the most important documents is the creation of America: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Being a chairman of the Continental Congress’s Finance Committee, he was trusted with traded with foreign countries, and handling the country’s finances. His knowledge of money management helped him save the country from financial crisis a few times. This title, however, also earned him many enemies because other jealous individuals felt he was only doing it go gain money and not from his loyalty to his nation. He loved his country and always remained extremely loyal to it. In fact, he was a leading figure in trying to pass the Constitution. Morris always put the well-being of his country and its people before his own need, which led to him being well liked by many, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. He worked closely with George Washington during the Revolution by helping him obtain loans to keep war efforts going and using his financial expertise to decide where money went to and for what reasons. Morris’s house was used as the “first presidential house”. This is due to the fact that George Washington trusted him and because he owned so much land and many

His efforts in government affairs helped him develop many needed connections to make this path one he could actually pursue. Through one of these connections, he obtained a plot of land in New York. This was a successful transaction that he gained profit from, but it was not enough for him. He took his ideas a little further and teamed up with John Nicholson, a Pennsylvania Comptroller General, in creating the Asylum Company in 1794. This company was used as a way to sell northeastern Pennsylvanian land. Morris was one of the richest men in America, until his antics failed him and he slowly lost hold of his fortune. Many people owed Morris debts, but they never paid up. This led Morris to fall into debt himself because he could not pay for all of his land endeavors. In 1798, he was tossed into debtor’s jail after obtaining twelve million dollars in debt. His hard work while in prison decreased his debt to three thousand dollars, but he was not released until a new bankruptcy law, that he helped create, was passed in 1801. After his downfall, Morris lived a more under the radar and worked on taking care of his