7/5/17 Chatterbox
Betty Kaiser
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
The U.S. Declaration of Independence
Yesterday we celebrated the Fourth of July and the above
words again reminded us of the distinct privilege and blessings we have as Americans.
The Fourth is one of those special days in our country’s history that still bring
chills of gratitude when we look back at the founding of our nation.
The USA that we know today is vastly different than it was two
centuries ago. Our principals, however, remain the same as that of the original
13 colonies that were banded together by a desire for independence from Great
Britain. Freedom was on the lips and in the hearts of every man, woman and
child. Weary of being shackled to another country; of fighting battles, over
basic principles of decency that they couldn’t win, they toppled a giant and
became one.
The Declaration of Independence that binds us together continues
to guide us today. The declaration of freedom document was formally adopted by
the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It proclaimed to the world that there
was a new nation on the world stage. The formerly dominated colonies would be
free of the tyranny of Great Britain. Free of “taxation without
representation.” Free to act on their own beliefs and to begin a new way of life
in a new world. It was a brave and gutsy move.
The Library of Congress succinctly describes the declaration
process as taking months. Serious deliberations began in June 1776 with congress
delegates from each of the 13 colonies. Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and others wrote
and guided, while the war raged on. They debated and revised the document
multiple times and finished just as the British fleet and army arrived at New
York.
A formal vote for independence was passed on July 2. The
document continued to be repeatedly revised until the morning of July 4, 1776. Then,
church bells rang all over Philadelphia; the Declaration had been officially
adopted! A hand-written copy was signed by Congress President John Hancock and that
night 150-200 copies were made at a printing shop. Twenty-four copies are still
in existence.
I am most intrigued by what happened after July 4. Getting
the
word out to the colonies and other countries was not easy. As
you may recall there were no telephones, telegraphs, railroads or instant
communication of any kind. The Pony Express was not even in existence.
This is where newspapers came into play. The Pennsylvania Evening
Post printed the first newspaper rendition of the Declaration of Independence on
July 7 and it was publicly read on July 8. Gen. George Washington ordered it
to be read to the American Army in New York from his personal copy. After that,
the original Declaration was formally inscribed and signed by members of
Congress.
Still, word of the country’s independence was slow to
spread. It was said of colonial communications: “Even the most critical
intelligence could only travel at the pace of the fastest horse or ship, often
taking weeks to reach other colonies by treacherous postal roads.” So, copies of
the Declaration were read in town squares via newspapers and later in
magazines. The document took nearly two months to reach some cities.
News of the American independence declaration reached London
mid- August via the ship Mercury. England’s General William Howe (stationed in
the colonies), broke the news in a letter to The London Gazette with this
succinct announcement: “I am informed that the Continental Congress have
declared the United Colonies free and independent states.”
The rest, as they say, is history. King George III was not
happy but the Americans eventually won the war gaining freedom from tyranny and
outside control. May we will always take the high ground with life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness available to all. God bless America!
