(On vacation this week. This article reposted from July 4, 2012)
On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and voted to legally separate the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain. In today’s world, the news would have been tweeted around the world in seconds, but for those days taking an additional two days to prepare the formal announcement was actually something like traveling at light speed. As a student of history, it has always fascinated me that the document actually went through several drafts before it was finally approved by Congress on July 4th. The website USHistory.org has various drafts leading up to the final declaration that was presented to congress…boring to some but fascinating to me.
While the committee responsible for composing this historic document did its work, it also gave John Adams time to write a prophetic letter to his wife Abigail on July 3rd:
The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, 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 Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.*
Oops, he missed it by two days. The act of courage that it took to vote on independence was overshadowed by the bold display of actually penning their names on a document for the entire world to see. Adam’s prediction that it would become an event that would be celebrated forever came true. His expectation that there would be a high cost in money, toil and blood also came true. In fact, the defense of the United States from its enemies has continued in one form or another for over two centuries. Freedom was not invented in this process but was borrowed from ancient Greece and other more modern philosophical thinkers of the day. Today, everywhere that a people unite to fight tyranny and shout their freedom from the rooftops is worthy of celebration by all of us. It also still requires courage and dedication of believers that people should be allowed to be free.
*Cited: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776, “Had a Declaration…” [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.
Liberty Bell photo courtesy of USHistory.org
