President James Monroe invited the Marquis de Lafayette to visit the United States, his adopted country. Lafayette’s tour of all 24 states in 1824 and 1825 drew large crowds and sparked a renewal of patriotism. During the American Revolution, Lafayette’s intense advocacy of the American cause convinced King Louis XVI of France to send troops and ships, which proved crucial to the American victory at Yorktown.
Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, of Rhode Island, died near Savannah on June 19, 1786, at Mulberry Grove Plantation, which had been granted to him in appreciation of his services in the Revolution. The memorial’s first cornerstone was laid on March 21, 1825, by Marquis de Lafayette during his visit to Savannah, 50 years after the end of the Revolution. That day, Lafayette, along with a group of freemasons, soldiers, citizens, and clergymen, marched to the square where a ceremony was held, and Lafayette gave a memorable speech. The city proceeded with the construction and installation of the monument, finally completing it in 1830.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.