According to David McCullough’s masterful biography of John Adams (I’m about halfway through it, but have a bad habit of trying to read two or three books at a time), the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 2, not July 4. But word got out on the 4th and 5th, and the Fourth became the date entrenched in the minds of the people.
Much as it pains the ACLU to admit this, Thomas Jefferson and most of the other founding fathers believed 1) in God; and 2) that freedom is a gift of providence, inherent in human dignity.
Here’s an excerpt of a letter Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, after the delegates voted for independence:
The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable eopcha 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 shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”
Adams also wrote he was well aware of the “toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this declaration.” (Check out Peggy Noonan’s July 3 column, which gives Mr. McCullough much-deserved props.)
Devotion to God...blood and treasure to maintain freedom...These are points you’re not likely to hear about nowadays.
Many nations throughout history have been founded on a culture or race, tribalism, or ideology. Ours is one of the few, and undoubtedly the most successful, ever to be formed with individual freedom as its cornerstone.
Unfortunately, on July 4, 2009, creeping collectivism and statism threaten to infringe drastically on our freedoms and liberty. And once the government takes away liberty, it usually is lost forever. We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history, and these next few years could truly make or break us.
Our schools do an abysmal job of teaching history, and this is a big reason why so many Americans take for granted our freedom and the sacrifices made to help this nation become great. It is also why so many people blithely watch the government grow without a worry in the world, and even vote for people like Barack Obama whose intent is to pour gasoline onto the roaring bonfire of government.
Large, intrusive governments have been the bane of mankind for centuries. It is a bitter irony that our brilliant Founding Fathers, influenced by British/Scottish Enlightenment giants such as John Locke, Adam Smith, and David Hume, founded the greatest nation in the history of the world by overthrowing an overbearing, tyrannical government — only to have future Americans gradually allow the odious weeds of government to grow so large we’re in danger of being choked.
Still, it is always darkest before the dawn. Although we’re behind the eight ball, don’t ever underestimate America. This Economist column (I don’t agree with all its content, but do concur with its conclusion), provides an encouraging reminder of Alexis De Tocqueville’s optimism about America and its genius for self-correction.
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