The American Revolution was the start of my love of history. I remember the 200th Birthday of our nation, and now as we are on the cusp of the 250th, I wanted to jump back in and follow the story day by day….. So I started posting this on July 4th, but thought I would add it to this platform also. So here we go with July 6th!
So Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson were at it again today. These two seem to be the official copywriters for the Continental Congress. Dickinson is actually known as the “Penman of the Revolution” for his “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania” that were published in the late 1760’s.
Today’s post was the “Declaration on Taking Arms”….you can read here: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/contcong_07-06-75.asp?fbclid=IwY2xjawLYB-lleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFIanhEOWlKMllnZkVybDRTAR6MJP0mDxudHHeY7gGrLFjNZkTyHa6DLw8K3nk0F5EYFfnLC9vn5x8a28ktwQ_aem_fwE9tW6RuhGD6ppctf2mSg
I loved the copy I found with both Jefferson’s and Dickinson’s drafts, edits and then the final copy that was distributed. I have worked with people writing different things, and the way people come together and work to make themselves known through writing is an amazing process to me.
“….being with our [one] mind resolved to dye Free-men rather than live Slaves.”
It’s interesting to read the declaration and hear them use such strong language as “slaves.” They both actually did own slaves, and I wondered what kind of mental gymnastics had to be done to own people while actively seeking freedom?
I read a bit more about John Dickinson, since he wasn’t someone I knew right off the top of my head. He will pop up more in this story…. but for now you can actually listen to his letters here: https://librivox.org/letters-from-a-farmer-in…/
Cheryl Mendoza 