America the Beautiful Day 4: The Declaration of Independence

For today’s America the Beautiful post, I decided to write about one of my favorite historical documents.  On July 4th, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.  As this document severed our ties with Great Britain, the date is now viewed as the birth of the United States of America.  The  Declaration would go through a number of printings, and would be read aloud in towns, and to the our soldiers fighting the British.

There are painting that show an image of the delegates standing in line proudly signing the Declaration.  And perhaps they did at a later date.  However, on July 4th, the fledgling nation was in deep trouble.  Independence was far from certain, and many of the signers would suffer during the war.  Many of the signers served in the militia, and some of those were captured.  Richard Stockton, a delegate from New Jersey, would be captured and imprisoned.  He was treated so poorly in prison, that he would die a few years after his release due to his treatment.  Many of the signers would lose some or all of their fortunes.  These men knew that the Declaration could be their death warrants.  We are familiar with the opening, but the final line (right above their signatures) is:

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.

And yet, for at least some of the members, there was a feeling of optimism at the signing.  In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams would express his predictions for how future generations would view this Declaration.  While he got the date wrong (the 2nd of July was the date the Congress voted for independence), I believe the 2nd President of the United States got the rest right:

…The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.  It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not.  I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these states.  Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory.  I can  see that the End is more than worth all the Means.  And that Posterity will tryumph in the Days Transaction, even althou we should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

I have always been inspired by the Declaration of Independence.  America has fought many wars, including a bloody Civil War, to make the words of the Declaration ring true.  I have always been inspired by it, and hope it inspires a future generation.