The Week That Changed The World
This Week in 1776, #28
“This Week in 1776” is an ongoing almanac of events from that year in the American Revolution. Be sure to check out my novel HEARTLANDERS.
It has all been building to this…and then we have six more months to go. Just you wait until we get to Trenton.
The War Side
I’m abstaining from a focus on Arnold and the northern retreat because nothing new happens with him. Washington continues to fortify New York, and Admiral Richard Howe (British) starts to arrive off the coast of the city.
Side note: I’m pretty sure Sean Bean’s character in National Treasure was named Ian Howe in reference to the Admiral.
There are no major military engagements in the South.
July 2: The Lee Resolution
I covered the Lee Resolution as an American Document earlier this year. It was put to Congress on June 7th, 1776, and led directly to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
“That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
Each state got one vote on the measure. The delegations had to agree by majority in order for their state’s vote to count. Overall the resolution passed 12-0. New York’s vote was delayed as they didn’t receive their voting instructions in time. South Carolina originally voted no, but once they saw the tally they switched their vote for unity.
July 3: Caesar Rodney’s Ride
Everyone remembers the ride of Paul Revere from 1775, but I really think we should also emphasize the ride of Caesar Rodney on the eve of the Declaration. It’s not as sexy because he rode for a political vote instead of a military warning, nevertheless without him bravely doing so in the middle of the night in a thunderstorm, the Declaration would have struggled to gain passage. Details:
—Delaware’s delegation had three members: Thomas McKean, George Reed, and Caesar Rodney.
—During this session in Congress, McKean and Reed were present, but Reed opposed Independence while McKean favored it. Despite being a small state, McKean knew that Delaware’s support would add strength and momentum to the measure. He knew Rodney favored independence but he was 80 miles away in Dover, doing militia stuff. McKean sent a message urging Rodney to show up for the vote.
—Rodney, 47, had asthma and cancer in his face. It had disfigured him so badly that he wore a scarf year-round to cover his jaw. Regardless, he got on a horse and spent the next 18 hours hammering turf to get to Philly for the vote. He was still dripping wet with mud on his boots when he voted, and Delaware’s assent broke the deadlock.
We should remember this bro.
July 4: The Adoption
July 4th is formally the day that Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, after all of the procedural stuff was taken care of. The text of it was sent to printers that night to be published in newspapers across the country.
The actual signing by “Fifty-[six] in iron pen, Mr. Matlack cannot offend” wouldn’t take place until August 2nd. (I believe I left this particular detail out of HEARTLANDERS but you should still read it.)
Thomas Jefferson Condemns Transatlantic Slavery
I wanted to mention this just because it’s a detail that merits preservation: an earlier draft of the Declaration included condemnation of the transatlantic slave trade, which many Signers opposed (the trade, not the condemnation) but it was such a divisive issue between North and South that they removed it from the final draft in order to get the vote through. (South Carolina and Georgia favored their slave trade, and Northern merchants profited from it.)
The Declaration wasn’t an omnibus bill: they couldn’t address every problem, they had to tackle things one at at time. Nevertheless, here is the text:
“He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither… Determined to keep open a market where Men should be bought & sold, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or restrain this execrable commerce…”
I shall have expanded remarks about this at a future time when I’ve done some more reading on the transatlantic trade in the Americas. I’ll want to have the details fresh for that. It’s worth noting that Jefferson, who owned slaves, opposed the trade thereof, and wished that the problem didn’t exist at all.
Which is something to remember when disingenuous people bring it up.
John Adams Marks the Date
In a letter to Abigail Adams, John said:
“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
His only error was in the date. He expected Congress’s vote to take hold in the minds of the people, but the text of the Declaration was what stood out:
In Congress, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
And it was unanimous. New York would add their assent on July 9. I will probably mention that again next week.
I did try to throw John Adams a bone with the third book in my Engines of Liberty trilogy; it came out ten years ago this week, on the 240th anniversary of Congress’s vote. It’s called PATRIOT’S GAME.
Anyway. That’s what happened this week. And my heart is full of gratitude for it every year.
Thank you guys for reading. Have a fun Independence Day. God Bless America.
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