A mob pulled down a lead statue of King George III in New York on July 9, 1776.
What do you think about pulling down statues? That and similar things happened during the American Revolution. Sometimes it was done by mobs, sometimes by the civil authorities. In New York City, for example, a mob pulled down a statue of King George III. Symbols of royal authority in government buildings were taken down and destroyed. A tavern in Worcester, Massachusetts, called the King’s Arms, used the royal coat of arms for its sign; the sign was taken down (and I’m guessing that the owner changed the name of the tavern thereafter). Many of these things happened just after the Declaration of Independence, which makes sense.
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence
After the Continental Congress set a date to decide whether to declare independence, they appointed five men to draft a formal declaration that could be published to the world. They wanted to be ready ahead of time so that they could move quickly if the decision was made. One of those five was Thomas Jefferson.
The other members of the committee — John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston — chose Jefferson to be the writer. During the month of June, he worked on writing a declaration that would show to the world why they were deciding to become independent. At the same time, he was working on a constitution for Virginia, and of course he had other Congressional duties as well.
After he finished writing it, the document was reviewed by the other members of the committee. Adams and Franklin made some minor changes. The committee reported to Congress on Friday, June 28, and the declaration was “laid on the table”.
In the State House in Philadelphia, later known as Independence Hall, the Continental Congress voted on July 2, 1776, to become independent from England.
The final vote for independence was taken in the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. Twelve of the thirteen colonies voted for it. One (New York) didn’t vote at all, because the delegates hadn’t yet been authorized by their constituents to do so (but soon thereafter, they received authorization and gave their vote for independence).
John Dickinson of Pennsylvania was one of the members of the Continental Congress who opposed declaring independence in the summer of 1776.
July 1st, 1776: The final debate began on whether to declare independence from Great Britain. Most delegates in the Continental Congress were in favor of it, but a few were still against it. They had postponed the debate for three weeks, but now the time was up, and the decision had to be made.
Why were some people still opposed to declaring independence? Here are some of the reasons they gave:
British warships bombarded Fort Sullivan, on Sullivan’s Island near Charleston, South Carolina, for hours on end, but finally had to give up and leave, worse off than when they came. This map “by an officer on the spot” shows where ships were positioned during the battle.
British General Sir Henry Clinton and Commodore Sir Peter Parker (no relation to Spiderman) led a combined army/navy attack on Fort Sullivan, at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. That is, it would have been a combined attack, but Clinton was unable to get his troops onto Sullivan’s Island, and Parker was left more or less on his own. Half a dozen of his warships pummeled the fort from late morning until after dark, but to no avail. Colonel William Moultrie and his South Carolinians gave even better than they got. The walls of the fort were made of palmetto logs and earth, which absorbed most of the enemy shot; but the American cannonballs took a heavy toll on the ships. When Parker’s vessels finally limped away late that night, they had suffered over 260 casualties, as well as damaged hulls, masts, and rigging (the Americans had only about three dozen killed and wounded). The British were sorely disappointed in their plans for conquering the rebels in the South; before long, they headed north to join the British forces amassing in New York.
Nowadays, you can tell that something belongs (or belonged) to the army by the fact that it has “US” or “USA” marked on it. In June of 1776, there was no United States yet, so how did the army mark its equipment? General George Washington gave orders to address this issue on June 18th:
to prevent the embezzlement of the public tools, the Quarter-Master General shall cause all the Tools, of every kind, belonging to the United Colonies, or at any time purchased for them, to be marked, with the following brand or stamp.
What was the mark they were to use? I’ll bet you can’t guess.
After being beaten at Quebec, the Cedars, and Three Rivers, it was time for the American army to retreat out of Canada. They were outnumbered by the British and Hessian troops that had arrived by ship in recent weeks; many of them were severely ill with smallpox or other diseases; and they were low on food, partly because the Canadians were reluctant to accept the paper money issued by the Continental Congress. If the American troops stayed in Canada, the enemy would certainly beat them; if they left, they could hope to hold on to Lake Champlain, south of the Canadian border, and keep the British from forcing their way into New York.
Part of a 1777 map of Canada. Three Rivers (les Trois Rivières) is near the top right.
In a bold attempt to regain some lost ground in Canada, an American force of less than 1,500 men marched to attack the town of Three Rivers (Trois Rivières), on the northern bank of the St. Lawrence River, in the early morning of June 8, 1776. Their plan depended on surprise, but some of the locals alerted the British that they were coming, and others, acting as guides, delayed the Americans by leading them the wrong way. As they marched along the riverbank, British warships began firing at them, and they turned aside into a swamp for safety. Forcing their way through the swamp was harder and took longer than anticipated. When they finally reached the town, they were the ones surprised: they had expected to find an enemy force much weaker than their own; instead, they found that the British outnumbered them by far — and they had cannons (which the Americans did not) and were sheltered behind fortifications. Despite all that, the Americans attacked. They fought bravely, but it was a hopeless situation, and they were soon forced to retreat. They left behind many casualties — about 200 Americans had been taken prisoner, and perhaps as many had been killed or wounded — and all hope of holding on to Canada.
Captain Henry Harvey of the British Royal Navy commanded the sloopMartin, which was anchored in the river Trois Rivières. He reported to his superior
A little before three oClock in the morning, of the 8th I received intelligence by a Canadian Canoe, that a great number of Batteaus, had cross’d the river from Nicolet, and landed a great Body of the rebels, at the Point of the lake, & were on their march towards Three rivers…about 5 OClock, a large body of the rebels appear’d opposite to the Ship, at the edge of the woods, marching towards the Town; I immediately fir’d on them which oblig’d them, to take shelter in the Woods, til they had passed our line of Fire; about six oClock they attack’d the advance guard, of our Troops and appear’d to do it, with much resolution, but on receiving the fire from a line of infantry, posted to advantage, they gave way with the loss of some kill’d and wounded; they then appear’d to be forming again, but very soon went off, in hast & confusion.
Anthony Wayne, a Pennsylvania colonel, helped lead the American attack. He described the battle to Benjamin Franklin:
About 2 in the Morning we landed Nine Miles above the town, and after an Hours March day began to Appear, our Guides had mistook the road, the Enemy Discoverd and Cannonaded us from their ships. A Surprise was out of the Question. We therefore put our best face on and Continued our line of March thro’ a thick deep Swamp three Miles wide and after four Hours Arrived at a more Open piece of Ground, amidst the thickest firing of the Shipping when all of a Sudden a large Body of Regulars Marched down in good Order Immediately in front of me… I Ordered my Light Infantry together with Capt. Hay’s Company of Rifle men to Advance and amuse them whilst I was forming, they began and Continued the Attack with great Spirit until I advanced to Support when I Orderd them to wheel to the Right and left and flank the Enemy at the same time we poured in a well Aimed and heavy fire in front… They Attempted to Retreat in good Order at first but in a few Minutes broke and run in the Utmost Confusion. About this time the Other Divisions began to Immerge from the Swamp…. At this Instant we Recd. [received] a heavy fire in flank from Muskettry field pieces Howitzers &ca. &ca. which threw us into some Confusion, but was Instantly Remedied. We Advanced in Colums up to their breast Work’s which till then we had not Discovered. At this time Genl. Thompson with Cols. St. Clair Ervine and Hartly were Marching in full view to our Support, Col. Maxwell now began to Engage on the left of me, the fire was so hot he cou’d not mantain his post. The Other troops had Also fired off to the left. My Small Battalion Composed of my own and two Companis of Jersey men under Major Ray amounting in the Whole to About 200 were left exposed to the Whole fire of the Shipping in flank and full three thousand men in front with all their Artilry under the Command of Genl. Burgoine. Our people taking example by others gave way. Indeed it was Imposible for them to stand it longer.
Richard Henry Lee was the one who made the motion in the Continental Congress for independence.
Independence had been talked about more and more for several months, but June 7, 1776, was the day that forced the issue to a debate, when Richard Henry Lee of Virginia made a motion in the Continental Congress:
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.
