Happy Independence Day!!!

As we prepare for the celebration of Independence Day (which, unfortunately, too many people only know as the Fourth of July), it might be good to reflect on what this holiday is all about.

In the summer of 1776 as the Second Continental Congress was meeting in Philadelphia, several threads were in play. There was already active warfare going on between the colonies and England.

This warfare had been preceded by events such as the burning of the British revenue schooner, HMS Gaspée, in Narragansett Bay, RI, in June 1772, and a raid by colonial militia on Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth Harbor, NH, in December 1774. Then came the event in Lexington, MA, that was to trigger what came to be known as the "shot heard 'round the world" as approximately 77 colonists assembled against a force of some 700 British troops who were marching to seize weapons and munitions they had heard the colonists were storing in Concord. To this day, no one knows who who fired the shot that triggered the exchange of fire (or even whether it was fired intentionally or accidentally), a skirmish that killed eight of the colonists.

This was followed by a larger battle in Concord, where the British troops met a force of approximately 400 colonial militia (the "minutemen" that many of us have read or heard about). After this battle, the British began retreating toward Boston, and, as they did so, they were fired upon along the route by a militia force that had now grown to about 4000.

Thus began the American Revolution in earnest. There was more fighting in New England (in Massachusetts [including Maine, which was then a part of Massachusetts], Rhode Island, and Connecticut), but the war (and most of the fighting) spread to the Middle Colonies and then to the Southern Colonies.

Initially many of the colonists were not really thinking of independence. Rather, they were protesting unfair British rule of the colonies, while others did not have strong feelings about the conflict. However, as the war dragged on, there was a growing movement for independence. The delegates to the Second Continental Congress were aware of this, and many were part of the movement.

In May of 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution stating that the United Colonies were free and independent states. The Congress appointed a committee (including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams) to follow up on this. The committee, with Jefferson doing most of the writing came up with a document that put forth a number of reasons for separation from Britain.

Even more than that, this document starts off with a list of natural rights and goes on to state that governments are set up to protect these rights, and that, if a government violates these rights, the people have a right to abolish that government and create a new one.

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

"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 . . . ."

Then this document lists a number of grievances to show that the British government had violated these rights, and, finally, the document declares that the colonies are now free and independent states.

This document, which we now call the Declaration of Independence, was approved by the Continental Congress on the 4th of July and was actually signed by the delegates on the 2nd of August.

"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."

Unfortunately, too few students learn much about this Declaration, what went into its development, and what this means to them. Fortunately, there is a movement in many states, including here in New England, to focus better on civics instruction.

Civics, a branch of social studies, focuses on the role of citizens and their relationship with their government. This includes studying how the system of government works and encouraging students to get involved.

One strong proponent of civics education is recently retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Last summer I sent him a note to thank him for and to encourage his promotion of civics education.

An excerpt from this note:

"I . . . want to thank you in a special way for your promotion of civics instruction, something I think is so very important.

"I grew up in Southington, Connecticut, and the local high school did offer a civics class. However, the only students required to take the class were those in the 'general' course of studies.  Those of us in the college preparation or other courses did not need to, and very few did.  I chose to because I thought it was important to understand how our government worked on the various levels and with its various related elements, and I am grateful to this day.

"Many years later, I began teaching language arts and social studies to 7th and 8th grade students at St. Patrick School in Providence, RI.  As part of my social studies curriculum (the focus of which, during these two years, was supposed to be U.S. history) for those fifteen years, I made sure to include a civics segment (usually about 10-15% of the course).

"Although the school is now transitioning to a high school and I am no longer part of the faculty, I am glad I chose to put as much effort into it as I did.  On reflection, I believe there were ways I could have done better, but I do hope the seeds that were planted and nurtured bear fruit.  One thing is for sure – the classes I spent on civics-related subjects usually brought forth more discussion than just about anything else, and it often took me longer to get through this material than it did for other subject matter.

"Thank you for your recent encouraging words related to civics education and for your commitment to this cause.  I wish you well in this.  May your efforts bear much fruit for the students and other people of New Hampshire, of New England, and throughout the United States."

During these times a lot of American citizens are taking the country and its leadership to task in many ways - and there are many things that need to be corrected in this country. But we must not forget that there is a lot right with it. There are many good people throughout this great nation who have a lot of good ideas and a lot of enthusiasm. There are many good people who have a strong love for this nation and everything it stands for. There are many good reasons to have hope - and one of the best reasons in the nation's motto (which many people do take to heart): "In God we trust."

Happy 234th birthday, United States of America!!!

For more information about the Declaration, visit:

National Archives: The Charters of Freedom: Declaration of Independence

To continue this celebration:

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir: You're A Grand Old Flag