As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of Independence, I was curious as to what was happening this week in 1776.
While the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, the American Revolution was far from over. However, this newly created document sent waves of renewed commitment to the cause throughout the colonies.
July 5, 1776
John Hancock authorized the printing and distribution of the Declaration of Independence across the colonies. Copies were immediately dispatched to military commanders and political leaders.
July 8, 1776
The Declaration of Independence was read to the public for the first time in the yard of the State House in Philadelphia (now known as Independence Hall). As the crowd cheered, the Liberty Bell was rung.
July 9, 1776
An angry mob of soldiers and citizens in New York City topple and behead the statue of King George III. The metal from the monument was melted down to make musket balls for the Continental Army.
July 10, 1776
General George Washington received his copy of the Declaration of Independence at his New York City headquarters. His reading of it to his troops energized the army.
The war would continue for another seven years. But the Declaration of Independence reignited the flame of freedom. Here was a document describing in detail why they were fighting, why their men were dying.
“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 requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
It had them at “When.” For that time was now, for as long as it took.
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