JULY 4th CELEBRATION
In the 21st century each July Fourth is, for the most part, seen more as a convivial get together with a patriotic theme than it is a day to reflect on how unique this nation really is. The day will end with a flair, as across the land enormous firework displays signal a conclusion, like no other, to a national day of celebration. But for those with a more analytical bent, the question might be: Who among us actually knows exactly what we are celebrating? Some will answer that it’s the birth of our nation. Others will say it’s the beginning of our war for independence, and still others will confess they have no idea but they had a helluva good time and the fireworks were mind blowing. And so it was that as June 1776 approached, 13 American colonies had been at been war with the world’s most powerful nation–the superpower of its day– for 14 months and had yet to win its first major battle. Great Britain, quite confident that it would crush this bunch of misfits, malcontents and uneducated rabble, was certain they were on the precipice of victory. The lack of ability demonstrated by the colonial Army to beat the British on any level–and the fact that as a nation they too had no better luck in battle against the British–kept the French (although they were rooting for the colonists) sidelined in the colonies’ war with Britain. As the cool of spring mixed with the coming heat of summer, June 1776 arrived in Philadelphia, PA. In spite of the fact that a gathering of intellectuals (something the British thought was nonexistent in the colonies) were there to represent an Army with no world standing–engaged in a fight with an Empire with no record of defeat–was most certainly a gathering that might have very well gone unnoticed–except for one man’s enormous intellectual prowess. During the month of June 1776, Thomas Jefferson completed a draft of what is probably the most unique and inspiring document of its type ever created. The American Revolution began in April of 1775 and the original intention was not to become a separate nation independent of Britain but to exact certain concessions having to do with autonomy and taxes. The unwillingness by the British to relent or negotiate provided the impetus for the creation of a hotbed of resistance driven by colonial intellectuals, who were both underestimated by the British and relentless in their pursuit of justice for the colonies. As the mood of a nation darkened, driven by men such as Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Hancock and others, a war that in the winter of 1776 many thought was lost was perpetuated because of the expanding new and exciting goal: to become an independent nation. In late spring of 1776 Adams and Jefferson had the following exchange as Adams pushed Jefferson into creating and writing a declaration of independence for the 13 separate colonies wishing to create a new nation. Adams contacted Jefferson suggesting that he write a declaration of independence for representatives of the 13 colonies to sign. Jefferson refused. Adams and Jefferson, each wanting the other to write the declaration, had the following exchange:
Jefferson: Why will you not? You ought to do it.
Adams: I will not.
Jefferson: Why?
Adams: Reasons enough.
Jefferson: What can be your reasons?
Adams: Reason first, you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second, I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third, you can write ten times better than I can.
Jefferson: Well, if you are decided, I will do as well as I can.
Adams: Very well. When you have drawn it up, we will have a meeting.
During the month of June 1776, Jefferson wrote the original draft that became “The Declaration of Independence” and delivered it to the Second Continental Congress meeting on the hot steamy morning of July 2, 1776. After the Continental Congress received the document, Adams and others did in fact edit the document that would be adapted on July 4, 1776–the day Congress declared independence from Great Britain. The 56 men who a month later signed the Declaration of Independence were not only men of vision and courage, endowed with great intellect, but they were a breed of men apart from most others who, by signing that document were willing to put themselves, their families and their friends at risk. In 1776 the British had no qualms and in fact were experts at dispatching with haste the leaders of their enemy’s forces. So this year when you are paying with American greenbacks for the beverage you are planning to hoist in celebration of the 4th of July, look at the pictures on the bills and if you see George, Tom, Alexander, Ben or John, remember to say hi because these guys put it all on the line so that you could have a place to live free and a day to celebrate! Bring on the fireworks!
–Jim Moore