Beyond the Scenery

PARK NEWS

        Our 250^th anniversary is almost here! Let’s look at the history leading up to July 4, 1776, as told in our parks:

On July 1, the Continental Congress, meeting at Philadelphia’s State House, now called Independence Hall, part of Independence National Historical Park in that city debated the proclamation stating America’s independence. This was authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson, who looked to 17^th century English philosopher John Locke for inspiration. Locke wrote, “No one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions,” and “The necessity of pursuing happiness [is] the foundation of liberty,” phrases very similar to those in the Declaration of Independence. Locke also argued in favor of religious tolerance, a radical idea in Europe in his time, and that idea too found its way into our foundational document.

After deliberation, the Continental Congress voted. Nine colonies approved the Declaration, Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted against, New York abstained because its delegates hadn’t received instructions on what to do, and Delaware’s 2 delegates split the ballot, thus nullifying each other’s vote.

A third delegate, Caesar Rodney, still in Delaware, received word about the deadlock. Determined to cast his ballot for independence, he rode 70 miles to Philadelphia in a thunderstorm, arriving just as the Continental Congress was taking a decisive tally on July 2. As you can see, Rodney is honored on Delaware’s state coin.

With his vote, and South Carolina and Pennsylvania changing their “nays” to “yeas,” the resolution passed. New York, still without a directive, abstained (the delegates didn’t receive permission to vote in favor of the measure until July 9). On July 4, final revisions to the document were approved, and it was sent to the printer.

And while we assume this picture depicts the signing on that day, the official Declaration of Independence actually wasn’t endorsed until August 2, 1776. And as Benjamin Franklin supposedly said, “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly, we shall all hang separately,” because they were essentially committing treason.

Here is a list of all fifty-six signers and the colonies they represented:

• Connecticut: Samuel Huntington, Roger Sherman, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
• Delaware: Thomas McKean, George Read, Caesar Rodney
• Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
• Maryland: Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone
• Massachusetts: John Adams, Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine
• New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, Matthew Thornton, William Whipple
• New Jersey: Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon
• New York: William Floyd, Francis Lewis, Phillip Livingston, Lewis Morris
• North Carolina: Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, John Penn
• Pennsylvania: George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, Robert Morris. Jr., George Ross, Benjamin Rush, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson
• Rhode Island: William Ellery, Stephen Hopkins
• South Carolina: Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge
• Virginia: Carter Braxton, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Jefferson, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Nelson, Jr., George Wythe

All of them are honored at the National Mall’s Constitution Gardens. In the coming thirteen months, I’ll talk about each signer by state.

On July 6, the Declaration of Independence was printed in a newspaper for the first time, in Pennsylvania. Two days later, clanging bells called Philadelphia citizens to gather at the State House Yard, now called Independence Square, to hear the initial public reading of the document.

One of those tolling bells is on display not far from there, also in Independence National Historical Park, an icon of our breaking off from Great Britain—the Liberty Bell.

 

 

250^th Events

All parks that normally charge an admission are free July 3-5, the better to enjoy the celebrations:

• If you’re up to it in the summer heat, meet up with a Park Service volunteer at the World War II kiosk on the National Mall for a 90-minute walking tour (less than two miles in length) for a talk linking several monuments and memorials to our 250^th birthday. The program begins at 9:30 a.m. every Thursday through August 6
• The National Mall is hosting several other events, this month and beyond, including several at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial
• In South Dakota, Mount Rushmore National Memorial opens at 5:00 a.m. (!) on July 2 and 4 with interpretive programs, presidential reenactors, and concludes with a performance by the U.S. Air Force Academy Band. Unfortunately, only those who won tickets in a lottery conducted in April, you won’t be able to enter the park on July 3, which will have a fireworks show
• Fort Stanwix National Monument invites you to celebrate the day (July 4) the 18^th century way, with tons of activities all day, from cannon and musket salutes, making your own tricorn hat, and a memorial service at its Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, all for free.
• Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park has a ton of activities for all ages throughout July. Highlights include three parades, a Sons of the American Revolution Showcase, and music featuring well-known singers like Queen Latifah, Idina Menzel, and Yolanda Adams. July 1 marks the reopening of the First Bank of the United States, founded by Alexander Hamilton

• If you want to join thousands of others, show up at the Washington Monument. The Salute to America programming begins at 1:00 p.m., the fireworks start around 10:30 p.m.
   
• You can watch the sparks fly at Anacostia Park, also in D.C., which happens around the same time as the National Mall fireworks
   
• At Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia, which encompasses Yorktown Battlefield, fireworks on the 4th over the York River start at 9:15 p.m. Fife and drums play 18^th century battlefield music at the Victory Monument at 11:00 that morning, and continue on scheduled days through mid-September
   
• Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, located in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, holds a Forging Freedom: An Appalachian Independence Celebration at its Visitor Center right where the three states meet. Colonial and Revolutionary Era flags, living history programs, and historic weapons demonstrations are featured
   
• Re-enact the signing of the Declaration of Independence as a delegate of the Second Continental Congress, meet John and Abigail Adams, and learn more about our war of independence at Adams National Historical Park in Massachusetts, July 2-5 and beyond
   
• Or visit any one of the Revolutionary War places I’ve mentioned in previous months on this blog; the National Park Service has a page dedicated to all American Revolution-related sites.

 

BOOKS ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

         One of my fellow authors at Elk Lake Publishing is Rebecca Price Janney. She has a six-book series set during the Revolutionary War, featuring a fictionalized account of one of her ancestors. The stories span two centuries, which makes them a good read for our country’s 250^th birthday.

 

WAR! WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

         Maybe you remember this anti-war song from 1969 referenced in the title above. The conclusion? “Absolutely nothin’.”

         Few would argue the Revolutionary War was fought for naught. Still, like all armed conflicts, it brought destruction and loss of life (about 25,000 Americans were killed in battle or succumbed to disease; the British and their Hessian mercenaries lost over 30,000 in total, according to History.com).

         No one really wants war. Most of us would rather settle our differences peacefully. But wars continue to break out.

         One day, though, they will not. There will be one last battle, outlined in Revelation chapters 12-20, when Jesus the Lamb will overcome all evil, hate, and injustice, because “He is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings; and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

         Jesus said those who aren’t with Him are against Him (Matthew 12:30). Whose side are you on?