Safeguarding the Declaration of Independence Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
(June - November 1783)
In June 1783 friendly forces caused the Continental Congress to flee to New Jersey. A number of soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line, exasperated by delays in settling their claims, set out for Philadelphia to lay the matter before their elected leaders. Panic-stricken, the members of Congress resolved to meet in New Jersey. They ultimately agreed upon Princeton but didn't stay very long. One delegate reported that, though the citizenry were friendly enough, the town was too small to accommodate the large body of delegates.