RePost: Little Known Facts about the War for Independence

I attempt to post this every year around Independence Day.  I put this together for a family 4th gathering about 10 years ago.  

Here's some fun, and might I add, crucial facts about the War for Independence that I'd discovered in studying US history.  Some are little known nor taught; others are just plain interesting to know about.  

One important item to note is that it twern't a "revolution", that's for certain (see my post The Revolution Myth for further insight).  It was fighting for what they'd been given and started with: Independence and the ability to govern themselves. That's what the individual charters of the colonies had stated and the King had signed, but the King(s) had slowly ignored that. Join that up with Parliament illegally taxing the colonies (or trying to...), which they had no right or law to do (see this ARTICLE), and the colonies were lawfully able to take away their allegiance to a despotic king and start a civil government autonomous from him. But the signing of the Prohibitory Act by King George (see #8 below) was the final blow to give the Colonies full justification to declare their united independence.

Anyway, read on, and perhaps consider going over these with your kids and guests on Independence Day; I do.

#1)  What happened on July 2, 1776?

The Continental Congress officially voted to declare themselves independent from Great Britain and declared the 13 colonies free States.  The resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee from Virginia where he said, "…these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved”.

#2)  How many men were selected to write up a Declaration of Independence?

Five.  They were Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Robert Livingston. (Robert Livingston did not sign the Declaration.  He believed it was too soon to pass.)

#3)  Who actually wrote the rough draft of the Declaration?

Thomas Jefferson

#4)  When was the Declaration officially signed and by how many men?

August 2, 1776.   56 men signed it.

(July 4, 1776 was actually the day Continental Congress approved the final draft of the Declaration.)

#5)  How many copies were made to distribute to the colonies?

200

#6)  What event is often said to be the beginning of the War for Independence?

The Battle of Lexington (Massachusetts) April 19, 1775 where the British were endeavoring to take colonist artillery that was in the city of Concord.  They had to pass through Lexington where they were met early in the morning by a small band of militia.  A shot was fired, but no one knows by who or if it was British or American, and a battle commenced where eight militia men died and no British.  This event is often called “The Shot Heard Round the World”.

#7)  Despite the unjust and illegal taxation, stationed British troops, and numerous hostilities from the King and Parliament, the 13 Colonies still desired to be loyal to the King and have camaraderie between the two.

     The colonists wrote two specific letters pleading to have the King address their concerns and problems.  The first was approved and sent by the Continental Congress on October 1, 1774.  It was entitled: “To the KING’s most Excellent Majesty, most Gracious Sovereign”. It was not responded to. 

      The second, and last, and most important was written by the Continental Congress on July 8, 1775 and signed by 49 delegates. It too was not responded to.   Do you know what that letter was called?

The Olive Branch Petition 

#8)  What was the official, legal event that marked the beginning of the Colonies being independent from Britain?

The Prohibitory Act proposed by King George III and passed by British Parliament on December 22, 1775.  It severed all ties of loyalty and friendship between Britain and the 13 colonies.  It stated that the Colonies were considered foreign enemies and were no longer under British protection.  King George then hired 30,000 Hessians (German province) mercenaries to wage war against the colonies along with thousands of Redcoats.

In other words, December 22nd is the TRUE Independence Day!

The Prohibitory Act is spoken of in the Declaration of Independence when it states: 

"He [King George] has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us." 

And,  "He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation.

#9)  When were the 13 States officially recognized by Great Britain as independent States?

On September 3, 1783 with the signing of the peace treaty between Great Britain and the united States called the Treaty of Paris because it was signed in Paris, France.

#10)  What three men represented the colonies and signed the Treaty of Paris?

Ben Franklin, John Adams and John Jay