The birth of a nation, the realization of a dream, an eloquently simple statement:\u00a0 “We hold these truths to be self-evident.”\u00a0 During June and July 1776, the Continental Congress was debating the future of the Colonies.\u00a0 King George III continued his abuse of the Colonies with over a year of armed conflicts between the British army and the Colonists’ militias.\u00a0 The King seemed deaf to the Colonies’ concerns. For the first time in history a people were considering creating a new nation with the people designing their own form of government.\u00a0 This new government would get its power from the people, not vice versa.<\/p>\n
The risks were frightening.\u00a0 The stakes could not be higher.\u00a0 No one defies the English Monarchy.\u00a0 No colony declares itself independent of the King of England, independent of the Empire. A unique plan.\u00a0 A grand experiment.\u00a0 A possible disaster.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even so, was there a chance they could survive their defiance of the King?\u00a0 Could an infant of the English Empire go to war with the King of England?\u00a0 Could they successfully engage the British army and navy? Could they create a new nation?\u00a0 A free nation?\u00a0 A democratic nation?\u00a0 Or, were they foolish dreamers, doomed to failure?\u00a0 Surely, England would listen to their grievances.\u00a0 Surely, England would understand the Colonies’ concerns.\u00a0 Surely, none of this talk of independence would be necessary.\u00a0 They could only await the King’s response.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But what to do while waiting?\u00a0 Do they dare consider forcefully leaving the rule of the British Empire?\u00a0 That would be treason.\u00a0 They would be traitors.\u00a0 They would be executed just for their consideration of such treachery.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania, New York, and South Carolina, the middle colonies, were not convinced of independence.\u00a0 John Dickenson of Pennsylvania was adamant their differences with the King could be resolved amicably; independence and war were unnecessary.\u00a0 Some others felt the same; reconciliation with the British was possible.\u00a0 The debates raged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dickenson pleaded, “You are pushing for independence from England prematurely.\u00a0 There is still hope we can find reconciliation with the mother country.\u00a0 Should we take the course you are suggesting, the full fury of the British wrath will be unleashed.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Agreeing, Griffith Rutherford of North Carolina hollered, “We will not vote for independence.\u00a0 Not now.\u00a0 Not ever!”<\/p>\n
Benjamin Franklin calmly responded, “The question is not whether, by a declaration of independence, we should make ourselves what we are not; but whether we should declare a fact which already exists.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
The British would accept nothing less than carte-blanche.\u00a0 The debate was severe.\u00a0 The debate was emotional.\u00a0 The debate was debilitating.\u00a0 Everything was at stake.\u00a0 The world was watching.\u00a0 What would these fledgling leaders do?<\/p>\n
Could they be prepared, if forced, to declare independence?\u00a0 But they did not have a unanimous vote for independence and without unanimity they would be doomed to failure.\u00a0 What to do?\u00a0 How to proceed?\u00a0 Somehow they had to get those last few votes.\u00a0 They had to have a Declaration of Independence drafted, should it come to that.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Who to write such a document?\u00a0 The most eloquent with pen, Thomas Jefferson, was asked to draft the Declaration of Independence.\u00a0 In just seventeen days during the summer of 1776 he created the single most eloquent and important document in the history of the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The vote was coming with the next gathering of the Continental Congress, when they would hear the King’s response.\u00a0 The delegates would return from their “states” with instructions.\u00a0 What would they do?\u00a0 How could so many disagreements among them be resolved?\u00a0 All were fervent.\u00a0 All cared more than we can fathom, all were more terrified than we can imagine.\u00a0 They were debating declaring war with one of the mightiest empires in the world.\u00a0 Moreover, should they lose, these “rebels”, these “traitors,” would be executed.<\/p>\n
The King’s response was harsh.\u00a0 The King’s response was unyielding.\u00a0 Did they have the votes?\u00a0 Two delegates deliberately “abstained” from the vote by not attending the session.\u00a0 The vote?<\/p>\n
“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 require that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.\u00a0 We hold these truths to be self evident. . .” (Declaration of Independence).<\/p>\n
In 1777, John Adams wrote his wife, Abigail: “Posterity!\u00a0 You will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom.\u00a0 I hope you will make a good use of it.”\u00a0 Let us, this Independence Day, look to our founding fathers with pride and with the commitment to be worthy of what they so cherished, what so many have died for – these “Free and Independent States”, these United States of America.<\/p>\n
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