The month of May is Jewish American Heritage Month. Since 2006, U.S. Presidents have issued proclamations in recognition of the contributions Jewish people have made to the growth and success of the United States. President Donald J. Trump’s May 4 proclamation included the following tribute:
“Since the earliest days of our Republic, Jewish Americans have helped build the cause of liberty and sustain the greatness of our Nation. Among them was the iconic Haym Salomon, an early supporter of the war for independence. As stories tell us, Salomon was instrumental in the success of our Continental Congress and Founding Fathers, and rallied support for freedom.”
As America readies itself for the July 4 milestone – 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence – we will pay homage to the brave actions taken by 56 delegates who mutually pledged to each other “our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor” as they signed the Declaration – fully aware of the fact that their signatures were acts of treason against the British Crown.
The pride and determination of these Founding Fathers were bolstered by a Jewish man also in search of liberty. Haym Salomon, a Sephardic Jew whose ancestors had fled the Portuguese Inquisition 300 years earlier, left his birthplace in Poland amid political upheaval and rising insecurity for Jews. Upon his arrival in New York City in 1775, he witnessed British oppression and quickly identified himself with the cause of the patriots, joining the Sons of Liberty.
Arrested by the British in New York for his loyalty to the patriot cause, Salomon escaped to Philadelphia in 1778. There, he flourished as a banker and financial broker. Fluent in multiple languages, his business acumen earned him the trust of European financial houses and respect for his personal integrity.
The war, which began in 1775, had the support of approximately 40-45 percent of the population. Funding the war, especially when taxation was not permitted under the Articles of Confederation, required financial deftness and determination. Salomon played a crucial role by brokering French and Dutch loans, selling bills of exchange, and personally advancing non-interest-bearing loans (which were never repaid) in order to support the war effort. In short, Salomon bankrolled the early Continental Congress – and likely kept the fledgling republic afloat.
Albert Bushnell Hart, Professor Emeritus of History, Harvard University, noted: “It looks as though his credit was better than that of the whole thirteen United States of America.”
Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance for the Continental Congress, who served from 1781-1784, appointed Salomon as the official broker to the Office of Finance.
And, according to entries in Morris’ diary, Salomon made private loans to prominent statesmen such as James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe, from whom he would not take interest.
Madison wrote a letter to Edmund Randolph (who would later become Secretary of State) on September 30, 1782, in which he referred to Haym Salomon’s generosity:
“I am almost ashamed to reiterate my wants so incessantly to you, but they begin to be so urgent that it is impossible to suppress them. The kindness of our little friend in Front Street near the Coffee House is a fund which will preserve me from extremities, but I never resort to it without great mortification, as he obstinately rejects all recompense.”
The Congressional Record dated March 25, 1975, records Congressman George Danielson:
“When Morris was appointed Superintendent of Finance, he turned to Salomon for help in raising the money needed to carry on the war and later to save the emerging nation from financial collapse. Salomon advanced direct loans to the government and also gave generously of his own resources to pay the salaries of government officials and army officers. With frequent entries of ‘I sent for Haym Salomon,’ Morris’ diary for the years 1781-84 records some 75 transactions between the two men.”
Over those three years, Salomon’s fundraising and personal lending helped provide $650,000 for the American cause – about $15.1 million in today’s money.
Haym Salomon also raised thousands of dollars for food and clothing for the Continental Army and personally guaranteed all debts incurred by the Revolutionary forces. Simon Wolf, in his 1895 book The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier and Citizen, sums up the role played by Salomon, noting that “the monetary contribution by Haym Salomon to the successful issue of the Revolutionary struggle was doubtless the largest made by any individual.”
The Jewish population at the time of the war was only 2,500 (of a total 2.5 million for the entire colonies). It is estimated that as many as 90 percent of American Jews supported the patriot cause, including Haym Salomon’s brother-in-law, Lt. Colonel Isaac Franks (his wife’s brother), who served in George Washington’s army.
By 1781, with the war in its sixth year and amidst dwindling resources, General Washington was in dire need of $20,000 for a crucial battle. He sent word to Morris, who responded that the troops were on the verge of mutiny. According to a widely reported account, Washington wrote back, “Send for Haym Salomon.” The money, secured by loans through his brokerage company, was raised within days, enabling Washington’s troops to continue on to Yorktown and deliver the decisive blow that forced Lord Cornwallis to surrender, leading to the end of the war.
Salomon sacrificed nearly his entire fortune for American independence. When he died suddenly in Philadelphia on January 6, 1785, at just 44 years old, he left his wife and young children penniless, with much of the money he had advanced to the government unpaid.
His contribution was mostly unacknowledged for many years. But in 1975, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp in his honor, describing him with these words: “Financial Hero – Businessman and broker: Haym Salomon was responsible for raising most of the money needed to finance the American Revolution and later to save the new nation from collapse.”
Happy 250th Birthday, America – with gratitude to our founders, the brave soldiers who fought gallantly, and to those who, like Haym Salomon, financed a young nation and propelled it to victory.
Ferne Hassan is a contributor to AMAC Newsline.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
Haym Solomon, perhaps the name should be mentioned each time there is an anti semitic attack, for if not for him there would not be the country where all attacks and protests and leftist lunacy is possible. It all would be one big Canada, no purchase of Alaska and where would we be?