Happy 4th of July! As we are enjoying the many parades, picnics, and fireworks, here are a few things about the Declaration of Independence to reflect upon and share with the people we care about the most! Let your people know what this holiday means…what it stands for…and how important it is to protect the very reason it exists.
It was our launch to liberty!
I love my country! And when you love something or someone, you take careful steps to preserve its integrity.
Caring for our country involves knowing the history of it, who we are and who we want to be. We did not choose autocracy 246 years ago. We chose Democracy. The preservation of Democracy is important enough that we keep working hard to keep it strong. Just like we could not leave a baby alone to take care of itself, we must be vigilant to care for our country’s needs, and beliefs…the belief and faith in Democracy.
July 4, 1776
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, 246 years ago today!
It took Jefferson weeks to write this critical, world changing document. Every word had to be carefully selected. There were 1337 words in the declaration, not counting the 56 signatures.
You remember the large signature by John Hancock, who wanted King George III to read it easily.
Thomas Jefferson’s words are powerful. The first two paragraphs are what most of us remember from history class:
His beginning: “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…”
His often quoted second paragraph: “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.”
In the middle of the Declaration, Jefferson writes carefully to explain that long ago we were not rebels. America’s separation from Britain was not rebellious in nature. King George had set up a tyranny over the colonies. The separation was necessary. But we needed to justify our goal of independence.
This section includes a long list of grievances against King George III. The purpose of this is to show that the relationship between the colonies and the British monarchy was “no longer tolerable” and must be abolished. But he prefaces this with this sentence, “To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.” Facts were important then. They are important now.
Jefferson’s writing is beautiful. He uses parallel construction and just as easily uses chiasmus, which is a writing affect that slows the text. It is a parallel construction that inverts the second part of the phrase.
This Declaration of Independence would be read aloud and he wanted them to slow down in certain places to let the meaning sink in.
One very pointed chiasmus in this document is this sentence.
“…as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.”
At the end, Jefferson writes, “That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.” This is the ultimate declaration.
But he doesn’t end there…he seals it with this promise, a promise we would do well to consider today…
“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.”
These were not mere words. They risked high treason against the King of England and many paid dearly for signing this document. Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in battle and another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. And nearly all of them were poorer at the end of the war.
Loving our country means more than flying the flag, although I am a proud flag flyer. Loving our country means giving our best to keep Freedom alive, to protect the rights of all Americans, and to hold Democracy dear enough to do our part to uphold it.
It is our honor and our responsibility as Americans.
Happy 4th of July…Happy Independence Day!
May we never forget why we celebrate!
Around the Table 