The Governor Who Went Too Far | America Before the Revolution

When power was stripped from the Assembly, open defiance shook the colony—and the king’s response changed everything.

Colonial Virginia plunged into crisis when Governor Howard tried to strip the Assembly of its authority. From controlling court appeals to handpicking record keepers, his crackdown sparked outrage and drove the Assembly into open rebellion.

In desperation, the Assembly secretly pleaded with the king for relief—but the plan backfired, unleashing harsh punishments and deepening the colony’s rift with royal power. What followed was a dangerous game of betrayal and defiance that echoed Governor Berkeley’s tyranny and exposed just how fragile the crown’s grip had become.

This immersive episode of America Before the Revolution takes you inside outrageous fees, power struggles with the monarchy, and the arrival of King William’s more progressive rule—early sparks of liberty that would grow into revolution.

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💬 Comment below: Whose side would you have taken—Howard, the King, or the Assembly?

🕰️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & Recap

00:37 – Governor Howard’s Power Grab

01:39 – Assembly Pushes Back Hard

02:19 – Outrageous Fees Spark Anger

03:27 – The King’s Overreach Protested

03:59 – Assembly Divided from Within

04:36 – Secret Plea to the King

04:52 – The Glorious Revolution Reaches Virginia

06:23 – King William’s New Approach

07:10 – Governor Howard’s Downfall

08:36 – A More Liberal Reign Begins

09:14 – Seeds of Revolution Planted

10:20 – Closing Thoughts & Next Episode Teaser

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