As Americans on each and every Fourth of July, all too often we get wrapped up in the events of the day and forget why we are celebrating in the first place. The day off from work, the cold beer on a hot summer day, baseball, and barbeques, all seem to take precedence over the significance of this day in our Country's history.
My love of this Country as well as my love for it's rich history leads me to write and publish this article one day before the celebration begins. I write this for two purposes: 1.) to remind all American's of the importance of this day in our history; and, 2.) to educate non-Americans of the significance of this date and the reasons we celebrate it.
THE DOCUMENT (DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Most of us are somewhat familiar with the first two paragraphs of this document, which sets forth:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
[Declaration of Independence (US 1776)]
Thereafter this document lists 27 grievances against King George III, describing the perceived abuses by the British Crown against the Thirteen Colonies. It is, however, the operative contained within the final paragraph of the Declaration which provides its profound historical significance.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, 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; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
[Id.]
Having pledged release from the perceived tyrannical rule of King George III and English Rule, the American Revolutionary War was conceived. The Thirteen Colonies would now fight to achieve the freedoms enumerated in the Declaration of Independence.
SOME BRIEF RELEVANT HISTORY SURROUNDING THE DOCUMENT
It is very interesting to first note that the legal separation of the Colonies from British Rule occurred in fact on July 2, 1776. It was on this date that the Second Continental Congress voted upon a Resolution of Independence declaring America free from British Rule. [See, e.g. The New York Times. (July 1, 1917). "How Declaration of Independence was Drafted" (PDF). https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1917/07/01/96251561.pdf. (Accessed July 3, 2021)]. Following this vote, the attention shifted to a modification of the proposed Declaration of Independence to remove "its vigorous denunciation of the slave trade [Wikipedia. "Independence Day (United States)". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States). (Accessed July 3, 2021). The main author of the revised Declaration was Thomas Jefferson in concert with the "Committee of Five" [Id.]. Thereafter, the document was finalized and signed by the delegates from the Thirteen Colonies on July 4, 1776.
Of well known historical significance (and a very good prediction of the future), John Adams penned a letter to his wife, Abigail. In this letter, dated July 3, 1776, Adams described the significance of the events of July 2 undertaken by the Second Continental Congress. He wrote:
The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch 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 shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
[Massachusetts Historical Society. " "Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/doc?id=L17760703jasecond. (Accessed July 3, 2021).
And oh how right Mr. Adams prediction turned out to be (albeit off by two days - American Independence is celebrated on the date when the document was signed, not on the date of Congressional approval).
CONCLUSION
So, tomorrow July 4, 2021, while you are all enjoying this:
remember the significance of the day.
May you all have a happy and safe July 4th.