There is no greater cause than that of freedom. There is no greater liberty to be found than the exercise of free will. The early history of our country revealed the daunting task of separating ourselves from England to remain free. This task, accompanied with an unfettered resolve by our Founding Fathers untangled ‘usurpations,’ of power over the people before they could blanket our nation in continuing servitude. After the tyrannical oppression of Great- Britain, our wise leaders declared the people’s inherent rights for freedom and independence by establishing the Declaration of Independence. The cause of both freedom and independence, which are divine qualities of a liberated nation, was a uniform desire of all those that wanted to flee oppressive powers.
But, what did it take? What events transpired before the people took matters into their own hands? After years of oppression and ignored redress, the people were literally under the heavy hand of Britain’s military forces. Their cries to the King of England for justice were in vain. Undeterred they persevered and came out victorious, but not before they tasted the bitterness of bondage and war.
Consequently, there was no law; the King was not willing to pass any laws unless the people consented to his will, and eliminated the people’s right to Legislative representation, (1)“…He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People.” There was no opportunity for peace; he placed the British military in a position superior to that of the civil powers of the people, (2) “He has kept among us, in times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.”
The King of England continued to exercise complete power and control over the people by using military force to bring about the cause of England. The military was not held accountable for their actions. False appearances of trial were held to save face only in the sight of the people, and held no weight where the true law was concerned. People were taken to England to be judged under false pretenses and accusations. Citizens of the Colonies were captured and forced to bear arms against their neighbor or be killed.
He created fallacious offices which were used to oppress the people. With heavy taxing of the people and lawlessness by his military continuing with no end in sight, the members of the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on July 4th, 1776 to approve the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
(3) “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 to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government… Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed…” ,
The people chose not to settle for tyranny, but to fight for and establish their freedoms once and for all. By so doing, they had finally reached a pivotal point where they were willing to take action to create a free society. We’ve learned, that through such suffering and tyranny, the people’s thirst for freedom far outweighed the fears of their oppressor. As a result of their sacrifice, they preserved the freedoms of all American people. What a blessing that our progenitors desired such freedoms. What a blessing, that they were willing to give their all to this cause. They recognized the hand of Diety , their Creator in the establishment of their cause and the subsequent Declaration of Independence.
In all finality the last paragraph to this document is of great significance,
(4)“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World, for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is, and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of Right do. And for the Support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.
Sacred Honor! A virtue that permeates the intent of the Founding Father's and the Declaration of Independence.
What is most telling in the final portion of this document is the pledge of each signer recognizing and testifying of the value of freedom and the dangers of tyranny . John Hancock’s bold and eloquent signature is a living testament of how he felt about this document and the gravity of the cause. This signaled to all, that this was to be the end of the tyranny for the Colonies, that freedom would abide and prosper for his day and for future generations. This event set the stage for the Constitution of the United States of America and was a way [the only way] of setting our country apart as a free nation.
Long live FREEDOM!
FYI:
June 7th 1776: Richard Henry Lee insisted that Congress severe ties with Britain, and introduces a resolution to exact the cause.
June 11th 1776: Committee to draft the Declaration of Independence was appointed, including such persons as; Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.
July 1-4th: Revision of the Declaration made by Congress.
July 2nd: Richard Lee’s resolution adopted by Congress, effectively declaring independence.
July 4th 1776: Adoption of Declaration of Independence by Congress.
July 4th 1776: Congressional order for the Declaration of Independence to be in print (Dunlap Broadsides).
July 19th 1776: By order of Congress the Declaration of Independence was to be inscribed and signed by members.
August 2nd 1776: Officially inscribed copy of the Declaration of Independence was signed by most the member delegates. Some others signed at a later date including; Elbridge Gerry, Oliver Wolcott, Lewis Morris, Thomas McKean, and Matthew Thornton.
Resource: Library of Congress. Webguides; Primary Documents in American History, Declaration of Independence. http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/DeclarInd.html http://www.loc.gov/library/libarch-digital.html
Footnotes:
(1-4) *Library of Congress; Declaration of Independence, printed by Mary Katharine Goddard, [1777].
Library of Congress,* http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/DeclarInd.html
*This is a great website to check out. You can see original documentation of the Mary Katharine Goddard publication of the Declaration of Independence, for your viewing.
Resources, videos and other links for your interest. Check them out!
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html (Constitution of the United States of America)
http://americanhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/default.aspx (War of 1812/ Frances Scott Key- Star Spangled Banner)
http://www.history.com/topics/july-4th/videos#jefferson-writes-declaration-of-independence (Jefferson’s responsibility to the Declaration of Independence)
http://www.history.com/topics/july-4th/videos#declaration-of-independence
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html (The Charters of Freedom)
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Constitution.html (Library of Congress link)
