Regarding the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote:
Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind… -Thomas Jefferson
That is the amazing premise of my newest favorite book, The Making of the American Mind: The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Matthew Spalding, history professor (and more) at Hillsdale College.
JANUARY 1776 – COMMON SENSE
Spalding explains that the one thing that shifted the colonists’ opinions from reuniting with Britain to separating from England was the publication of a 47 page pamphlet titled Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine and published in January 1776.
Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, “Tis TIME TO PART.” –Common Sense
In a population of two and a half million people, “Common Sense” sold 100,000 copies in three months and an estimated half-million copies over the course of the American Revolution, making it an all time best-selling American title. The effect on popular opinion was electric. –The Making of the American Mind: The Story of the Declaration of Independence, Matthew Spalding, p17
Although a few of the colonies began discussing the formation of their own governments, none took action.
Except Virginia, when on May 15, 1776, the Fifth Virginia Convention declared their independence from Great Britain, then wrote their own declaration adopted on June 12, and then began to form their own government adopted on June 29.
JUNE 7, 1776 – LEE RESOLUTIONS
Meanwhile, Virginia sent instructions to Richard Henry Lee in Philadelphia to present to Congress three resolutions, which became known as the Lee Resolutions.
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee presented to the floor of the congress:
Resolved, That 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.
That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.
That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.
As a result, there was some debate, as well as the formation of the Committee of Five to write a declaration, which included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman.
After the Committee of Five outlined their ideas, a sole writer was determined, which John Adams described:
The Committee then appointed Mr. Jefferson and me…when Mr. Jefferson desired me to take them to my Lodgings and make the Draught. This I declined and gave several reasons for declining. 1. that he was a Virginian and I a Massachusettsian. 2. that he was a southern Man and I northern one. 3. That I had been so obnoxious for my early and constant Zeal in promoting the Measure, that any draught of mine, would undergo a more severe Scrutiny and Criticism in Congress…4thly and that would be reason enough if there were no other, I had a great Opinion of the Elegance of his pen and none at all of my own. I therefore insisted that no hesitation should be made on his part. He accordingly took the Minutes and in a day or two produced to me his Draught. -John Adams, journal
Thus, Thomas Jefferson set to work with quill pen and parchment…composing the general mindset of the American populace that had been honed in the past years of writing documents to Britain.
JULY 2, 1776 – VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE
From there, Spalding details where the various colonies stood on independence: for, against, or on the fence.
The impending course of events, as might be expected, led the individual colonies one by one to issue new instructions to their delegates.-The Making of the American Mind: The Story of the Declaration of Independence, Matthew Spalding, p34
Detailing what we know of the debates and how the votes eventually sided to the yea column, the colonies voted for independence on July 2, 1776.
JULY 2 THRU 3, 1776 – EDITING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Then began the edits on the Declaration of Independence.
Unlike their common practice on such occasions…Congress did not send the text back to committee for revision but decided to edit it for themselves.
Meanwhile, General Howe arrived in New York with 10,000 British troops.
During debate, Thomas Jefferson wrote that John Adams” supported the declaration with zeal & ability, fighting fearlessly for every word of it.
Of his own inactions, Jefferson explained:
I thought it a duty to be, on that occasion, a passive auditor of the opinions of others, more impartial judges than I could be, of its merits and demerits.
Making forty changes and cutting one-fourth of the text, the Congress completed their edits in two days.
Many scholars have described that as good as Jefferson’s original draft began, the edited word choices were “a marvel to history” which Spalding details later in his book.
JULY 9, 1776 – FIRST PUBLIC READING
Behind the Pennsylvania State House, on July 9, 1776, Philadelphians first heard the Declaration of Independence read aloud.
After rounds of huzzahs, the militia paraded about and bells rang through the city.
By the way, no one knew the author of the document for many years.
In fact, the only names on this first printing by John Dunlap were of John Hancock (president of the Continental Congress) and Charles Thomson (secretary of the Continental Congress).
Six months later the delegates added their names in pen.
EXPRESSION OF THE AMERICAN MIND
Adams wrote: there is not an idea in it, but what had been hackney’d in Congress for two years before.
When asked by James Madison regarding Adam’s statement (above), Jefferson replied: I did not consider it as any part of my charge to invent new ideas altogether & to offer no sentiment which had ever been expressed before.
In response to Henry Lee (a cousin to Richard Henry Lee) in 1825, Jefferson explained:
[W]ith respect to our rights, and the acts of the British government contravening those rights, there was but one opinion on this side of the water. All American whigs thought alike on these subjects.
When forced, therefore, to resort to arms for redress, an appeal to the tribunal of the world was deemed proper for our justification. This was the object of the Declaration of Independence. Not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take. Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion.
BACKGROUND HISTORY AND WORDING ANALYSIS
Fascinatingly, through the rest of the book, Spalding analyzes each phrase of the Declaration of Independence, clarification of the meaning of the 18th century words, background history, input from delegates, etc.
Especially interesting are a few parts where Spalding explains purposely cadence and rhythm within the prose, which was popular in the 18th century to stress a point.
HOMESCHOOL RECOMMENDATION
I will be referencing this book and rereading it a lot! Quite a goldmine of information!
If we were still homeschooling (my kids graduated in 2012 and 2014), I’d have used this book for our rhetoric studies!
