This past Tuesday, Americans celebrated the Fourth of July with fireworks, cookouts, and wearing red, white, and blue. Also known as Independence Day, the Fourth of July recognizes the day when the American colonies proclaimed freedom from British rule by adopting the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776.
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| Happy Fourth of July from the Waterford Museum! |
The patriotism surrounding the Fourth of July makes it difficult to believe that during the early stages of the American Revolution (1775- 1783), about one third of the colonists disfavored total independence from Britain while another third were on the fence. Britain served as the colonies' primary trading partner and had an extremely skilled navy that offered protection. No British control meant risking good trade relations and losing naval protection.
So how did American colonists go from hesitancy in 1775 to wanting independence in 1776? Well that same year, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet entitled
Common Sense that pushed for independence from Britain.
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| Thomas Paine's Common Sense |
In
Common Sense, Paine gave an example of an imaginary island inhabited by a group of people who, over time, created their own culture and ties to one another. Therefore, he argued, any laws on the island should be made by the inhabitants, not by some far away country isolated from the islanders’ unique way of life. This story meant to represent the relationship between the American colonies and Britain.
Common Sense changed the minds of many undecided colonists and convinced them to embrace autonomy, allowing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776. However, the American Revolution had only just begun and the colonies' fight for freedom would continue for several years following the Declaration.
It was not an easy fight for either side. The Red Coats (the name for British soldiers) were miles away from their home country and were unfamiliar with America's terrain. The colonists did not have a standing army or navy, but they did have heart, and it was this passion that helped them win the war.
One of such passionate colonists was Allen Gwould, a Revolutionary War citizen solider from Hemlock, New York. Featured below is his plume that is believed to be taken from a Hessian, or a German mercenary that fought for Britain. Perhaps Gwould carried the plume with him as a reminder of past victories or as inspiration for victories to come. More of Gwould's Revolutionary-era belongings can be seen on display at the Waterford Museum's Born of Two Rivers exhibit.
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| Plume c.1776, at the Waterford Museum |
The history behind our country's birthday goes beyond the Declaration of Independence. A significant amount of colonists did not want total independence from Britain at first and those who did were against the odds. It just goes to show you that a little bit of heart, or for some, a change of heart, goes a long way. Without
Common Sense invigorating the colonists, the Declaration of Independence may not have been adopted and the colonies may not have been victorious in the Revolutionary War.
Read more at:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-colonies-declare-independence
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/commonsense/summary.html
http://www.ushistory.org/us/11b.asp
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/revwartimeline.html
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