Without question, our Declaration of Independence is one of the most enduring and influential documents of all time. Leaders extol it, foreigners are in awe of it and citizens are inspired by it.
Abraham Lincoln declared he “never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.”
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, called it “a landmark in human freedom.”
But even those closely involved with this “Birth Certificate of the United States of America” would be surprised and amused by the myths and misunderstandings which surround it.
? When Richard Henry Lee of Virginia rose in the Second Continental Congress on June 7, 1776, and proposed that, “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States,” fighting had already been under way for more than a year. The first volley — “the shot heard round the world” — had been fired April 19, 1775. Despite this, Englishmen in America continued toasting the health of King George III and were reluctant to move for independence. (George Washington, on his way to take command of the army said he “abhorred” the very idea of independence.)
These attitudes changed as it became apparent the “Royal Brute,” as Thomas Paine characterized the king in “Common Sense,” was committed to crushing the rebellion.
? When a committee of five was appointed to produce a formal, written Declaration of Independence, two of them, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman, never showed up. The remaining three, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin decided Jefferson should write the draft. This 33-year-old Virginia lawyer, while a poor speaker, was already a renowned writer with a “peculiar felicity of expression.”
Jefferson worked on his draft between June 11 and June 28. The committee members made some minor changes, but to Jefferson’s dismay, the Congress cut it by a quarter.
Altogether 80 changes were made to the original paper before its approval on July 4, 1776. (The most important of these was excision of a passage indicting the slave trade.)
? This document, loosely called the “Declaration of Independence” is officially titled “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America.”
But it wasn’t unanimous nor was it the pronouncement of a single nation. New York would not add its vote for independence until July 19. Also, at that time the “United States of America” consisted of 13 sovereign states. While united in their resolution to fight together for their independence, they were united in little else.
In reality, the document was not so much a declaration of independence as an explanation or justification of an act already accomplished. Or as contemporaries described its “Mr. Jefferson’s advertisement of Mr. Lee’s resolution.”
Congress, on July 2, 1776, had already declared itself free of Great Britain when it voted to approve Lee’s motion of June 7.
Of that date, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:
“The second 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 solemized, with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the Continent to the other, from this time forward, forevermore.”
Adams correctly anticipated the holiday atmosphere that would mark our “great anniversary festival.” He couldn’t know, however, that later generations would, incongruously, end up celebrating independence on July Fourth rather than July 2.
It should be noted that the unique document known as the Declaration of Independence began with a theory of government and concluded that the Colonists had done everything possible to preserve peace, but were forced to opt for independence because of Britain’s intransigence.
But it was primarily a justification in that it offered, between the two features noted, 27 grievances or complaints. This “long train of abuses and usurpations,” it was claimed, could only lead to “an absolute tyranny over these States.”
Legend to the contrary, the document was not signed on July Fourth. Only John Hancock — the president of the Congress — attached his signature that day. Most signings took place on Aug. 2, 1776, and then continued sporadically until 1781.
It has been said that when John Hancock affixed his signature to the Declaration, he did so in an outsize script, declaring: “There, King George will be able to read that without his spectacles.” Sounds good, but there is no evidence he made that defiant gesture.
Actually, Hancock habitually wrote his name very large. On an ordinary personal letter in 1776, his signature measures 4 inches, scarcely smaller than that on the Declaration. Only as he aged and his public stature diminished did his signature become normal size.
Benjamin Franklin, though 70 years old not only served on the committee, but is reputed to have dramatically noted on July Fourth: “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” But this first came to notice 50 years after his death. Since none of his contemporaries mentioned anything like this, Franklin probably didn’t say it.
But one note about Franklin could be a bombshell. There is a claim floating around that Franklin and not Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Maurice and Molly Freedman have put forth this theory, but no Jefferson or Franklin scholars have given any credence to their view.
? The last surviving signer of the Declaration was Charles Carroll of Maryland, who died at 95 in 1832. It has been noted he was the only man to add his address to his signature.
The story goes that a British victory would surely result in the execution of those who signed the document. As Carroll was about to affix his name, it was jokingly suggested there were other men in Maryland named Charles Carroll and the British might hang the wrong one. This prompted Carroll to boldly add “of Carrollton,” so there could be no mistake about his identity.
A nice story. But, in fact, the respected Marylander had “been signing all his papers “Charles Carroll of Carrollton” since 1756.
But despite the myths and misconceptions that surface from time to time about the Declaration of Independence, it remains a beacon light of hope for all peoples.
And although the parchment will ultimately turn to dust, it has achieved its own immortality. It is in the hearts and minds of the people that the Declaration will endure.
Martin D. Tullai, senior master emeritus (U.S. history) at St. Paul’s School in Brooklandville, Md., is a writer, lecturer and author of “The Presidency — Once Over Lightly,” “Speaking of Abraham Lincoln” and Football’s Best Quips, Quotes and Quellers.”
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