By Carol Fisher Linn
Imagine being in Philadelphia at Independence Hall two hundred forty-six years ago (1776) when the Continental Congress adopted America’s Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. On June 7th the gentleman from Virginia brought a resolution for independence to the floor. Vote was postponed; a five-man committee was appointed to draft a resolution and they reconvened 25 days later, on July 2. 25 days!!!
Of course, the colonists were divided. Not everyone initially agreed that America should break with the Crown. In fact, in April of 1775 with the initial battles of the Revolutionary War raging, many influential colonists were reluctant to part ways with Britain. But, thanks to the eye-opening ideas in Thomas Paine’s 47-page booklet “Common Sense” and growing unrest by the common folk with unfair laws and burdensome taxation by Great Britain, the people were more open to the concept of independence. In “Common Sense,” Paine berated the king, but he also pointed out how the American colonists could change the course of history by working together to create a new kind of government where the people were free and had the POWER to rule themselves. He said, “We have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest and purest constitution on the face of the earth.” “We have it within our power to begin the world all over again.” Think about this … In July 1776, consensus had to be reached by representatives for the 2.5 million people living in 13 colonies. Today, we number about 333 million – any wonder we have a difficult time reaching consensus? It’s amazing to realize that this radical booklet, written in January 1776, reached enough people to change minds, and had an estimated 500,000 copies circulating by the end of the Revolutionary War (9/3/1783), all without the help of the internet and Amazon. Ahh, the mighty power of the pen, or should I say, quill?
When the Continental Congress put the proposition to a vote, it had one small New York hiccup, but then it was unanimous. The declaration was signed on July 2. However, time was needed to draft a document explaining it to the public. Within two days it went to the printer, using the date the edits were completed – July 4th, officially making the fourth America’s birthday. BTW, have you noticed the signatures? John Hancock was president of the Congress at the time. Think he used a sharpie?
Curmudgeon John Adams decided that July 2 should be America’s birthday. He wrote to his wife, “July 2nd will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival…” Adams was so convinced that this was the date to celebrate he would belligerently turn down invitations to be guest speaker at events on the 4th. And then, alas, America’s founders, Adams and Jefferson experienced a prolonged parting of the ways. But fate got the last word, forever linking Adams to July 4th and to Jefferson when these last two survivors of the birthing of our country, John Adams (at home in Quincy, MA) and Thomas Jefferson (at Monticello) both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration’s adoption. Couldn’t create a better storyline.
So, here we are, 246 years later, still working through issues, still divided, still seeing things through opposing perspectives. Our beloved America is not perfect; we’ve got a way to go, but the founders knew what they were doing and wisely developed a republic that has endured for all these years, serving as a model for other governments who want to follow our lead. So, on this birthday, let’s celebrate that we can speak out freely. We can go to the polls and have our voices heard. Back in 1775 Thomas Paine reminded American colonists that they could change the course of history by working together. Over two hundred years later we have the freedom and privilege to work together as a country to make decisions, to decide together what is best for America, to vote, to march and demonstrate, to connect with our representatives. We have the power promised all those years ago, if we practice good citizenship and use it. God Bless America. Happy 246th Birthday.