The Declaration of Independence: Igniting the Flames of Rebellion
On July 4th, 1776, 56 delegates from the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, the authorship of which is attributed to Thomas Jefferson. Once signed, the news spread like wildfire. John Dunlap printed many broadside copies that were swiftly distributed throughout the colonies. A copy of one of these broadsides made its way over the Atlantic and was printed for the first time in Belfast in August 1776 by the Belfast News-Letter. A broadsheet, not containing the signatures, then made its way to King George III.
Despite the colonies' bold declaration of independence, the British were far from ready to let their American territories go without a fight. After the Declaration of Independence was signed, British forces under General William Howe took significant action in response to the escalating conflict. On September 15, 1776, an expeditionary force led by General Howe of over 32,000 British regulars, 10 ships of line, 20 frigates, and 170 transports defeated Washington’s troops at Kip’s Bay and invaded Manhattan Island. Thus began a seven-year-long British occupation of New York City. This occupation period was characterized by a complex web of loyalties, with familial, political, and mercantile ties interwoven in a tightly packed space. The City of New York had to cope with the addition of two armies and the imposition of wartime regulations, creating a unique environment where political, class, and economic concerns constantly tugged at the population.
In the wake of the British military victories, King George III took the opportunity to address the British Parliament on October 31, 1776. His speech focused on three main points. Firstly, he expressed deep regret that the American colonies had not ended their rebellion. Secondly, he informed Parliament about recent military successes, notably in Canada and New York, offering hope for the future but warning of the need for continued preparedness for war. Lastly, he affirmed his intention to uphold the welfare of all his subjects, including those in the rebellious provinces, arguing that they had mistakenly traded their lawful liberties for war and tyranny.
While King George III was rallying his troops and preparing for a long war, leaders in the American colonies were also demonstrating their resolve. Men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, among others, risked their lives and fortunes to uphold the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence. They believed in the words they penned: "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."
As we celebrate July 4th, let's remember the sacrifices made by the men who believed in the pursuit of these unalienable rights. Their actions laid the foundation for a new form of government, flawed but adaptable, our Democratic Republic, one that was to be led by the people and for the people, and forever changed the course of human history.