As the United States of America celebrates its 250th birthday today, here Avery Scott considers how the story of the declaration of independence is a microcosm of the American experiment itself. A testament to the birth of what would become the most powerful country on earth.
Declaration of Independence (1819), by John Trumbull. Source: Public domain, available here.
Seated together, sweating from the heat but sure of the momentous task in before them, the delegates of the Second Continental Congress debated the merits of independence. These were men whose names and images would one day grace currency, monuments, schools, universities, and street signs; before that could happen, however, they had to survive a war. Their task – impossible. The odds – unlikely. Yet, one by one, they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the great experiment, lending their voices to future generations. While it is easy to look back through the lens of hindsight and view them as inherently heroic. We must remember the fear and apprehension in the hearts of these mortal men who, through facing the unimaginable, became immortalized. America’s founders did not have the benefit to know the result of the conflict when they proposed independence. Because of this, as Americas 250thbirthday approaches, it is important we look back on the struggle and strife that led to the crafting of the document that set America on a course of its own.
Proclamation
Independence was a debate that began many years before 1776, and it took time for even the most ardent patriots to come around to the idea. Factions formed as soon as the Second Continental Congress convened, and these would hold firm until, in the words of John Adams, thirteen clocks struck at the same time. Many delegates held firm to a reconciliation with the mother country, while ardent patriots like Adams pushed for a clean break. But as the debate wore on, and British pushback intensified, it became apparent to many of the delegates that a time for choosing was fast approaching. Virginia representative Richard Henry Lee put the final nail in the coffin with his June 7, 1776 proclamation:
“That these United Colonies are, and of a right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connections between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
Debate began immediately on the point, with several states still either awaiting instructions from their state legislatures, or outright opposing the idea of independence until there was more pressure from the people. After two days of intense debate, South Carolina’s Edward Rutledge had the final vote delayed until July 1st to allow delegates to obtain definitive instructions from their home states. Thomas Jefferson, in his typical literary fashion, summed up the hesitation of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina noting that they were “not yet matured for falling from the parent stem.”
During the intermission, Congress formed a committee to draft the preliminary language for what would become the Declaration of Independence. They appointed the “Committee of Five” which was comprised of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Benjamin Franklin. Congress decision to appoint these men would allow for the development of the foundational document of American life. The mere presence of Jefferson and Adams paired two of the greatest legal minds of the era, while the addition of Franklin added his years of diplomatic experience as a colonial representative, wealth of knowledge from life abroad, and political savvy necessary to form a document that was just as much for the new citizens of the United States as it was for the British government.
Recess
During the recess more states began giving their delegation instructions to vote for independence, and it became clear the break with the homeland was on the verge of becoming reality. On a hot, and stormy first day of July, the delegates reconvened to discuss the question of independence. As John Hancock brought the assembly to order, and had Lee’s resolution read aloud once more, John Dickinson rose to offer his final attempt to stop or slow, the current march toward independence. Dickinson knew this would be the “undoing” of his political career, but his conscience compelled him to speak, warning that to pursue their current course would be “to brave the storm in a skiff made of paper.” While his speech was elegant, he was no match for the passion of John Adams, and the force of his rhetoric, and the revolutionary fervor swirling around Philadelphia like a biblical locust storm. Yet despite a valiant rebuttal from Adams, a preliminary vote revealed four states were not ready to vote “yes” to the question of independence. Both South Carolina and Pennsylvania voted no; New York agreed in principle, but lacked authority to concur; and the Delaware delegation was deadlocked without the presence of their third delegate, Caesar Rodney, an ardent independence man. A 9-4 vote was insufficient to ensure “13 clocks strike together” and a vote was postponed until the following day. Miraculously, a mud splattered Rodney appeared, flipping Delaware to “yes.” Furthermore, John Dickinson and Robert Morris, unable to vote yes in good conscience, were intentionally absent to allow Pennsylvania to vote “yes”. New York continued to abstain from the vote, but by not voting in opposition, allowed the historic measure to pass.
John Adams was jubilant at the results of July 2nd, declaring, “It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”
The follwing days were consumed with fierce debates over the specific language of the Declaration - a painful process for Jefferson as much of the original text was altered. Ultimately, the final text was approved for printing on July 4, 1776. It was read aloud for the first time to an excited crowd on July 8th, and on August 2, 1776, the official copy of the Declaration of Independence was signed. The signing did not end the process of independence, rather it was just the beginning. Years would pass before any of the signatories knew that their faith in the American experiment would be rewarded.
The story of the declaration of independence is a microcosm of the American experiment itself. The founders did not balk in the face of adversity; rather, they charged head on, wagering their lives in the process. They struggled, endured deep division, and fought on. We can learn a great deal from this today. The Ecclesiastes phrase “nothing new under the sun” perfectly fits the timeless nature of struggle. Our struggles as individuals or as a nation may feel unique to our era, but they are as old as time in concept. America has struggled through heartache, trial, and strife before, and we will continue to adapt, develop, and adjust to the challenges of an ever-changing world.
You can read more from Avery on the history site here.
Now, listen to our series on the American Revolution here.
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