Allen Hamrick
Here we are in July of 2026, nearing the epic moment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago. The romantic thoughts of fields of patriots waving the flags of independence, hoisting muskets in the air and going toe to toe with the best fighting units merry old England could musterwere just that – thoughts.
The reality was very much different.The time then was a banner moment for the people, driven to believe that independence was the key to happiness and freedom even if it cost the lives of everyone they knew. Butwas it? Beyond the powdered wigs of the political gentlemen and rich patriot landowners determining the fate of a nation were the people torn between loyalty to a crown or the uncertain choice to fight to make their own choices. At times their choices were clear, the very soul and spirit that made them whotheywere drove them to their own conclusions.
Yet, others needed to be led. The true American spirit lay in those whose blood boiled at the thoughts of not being able to determine their own fate, hence the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Yet everything is not all black and white. We have been taught, have read of, have heard the ancestorial stories, and there are ledgers, documents and manuscripts that all tell us the story of the nation’s beginning. Nearly half of the people who signed were lawyers and judges; others were rich merchants and plantation owners.
So, it begs the question, did they do it to protect themselves and their fortunes and to ensure that this country’s new government, if they won, would be ruled by them and not the farmers and lower-class people? Considering that the taxes collected by England, along with political policies, directly affected them and their businesses, landowners like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson couldn’t expand their wealth in land west because of England’s rule.
It boiled down to the wealthy class no longerwanting to be ruled by England; they wanted to rule for themselves and their own interests. In this way they could control the politics and the economy of the new United States of America and put their own agenda at the forefront. However, one can argue that war wasn’t the best investment as some of the signers lost all they had and died paupers.
Also,the people of those times thought differently – they truly believed that the country would be better off. This is largely because signing the Declaration of Independence was a death sentence if they lost. Seemingly, not much has changed since then.Millionaires make up our modern Congress, and they still use the American dream, freedom and liberty as sounding boards. Behind closed doors, these leaders make decisions that directly affect the working-class people in a way that will mostly benefit themselves.
They are isolated from the daily financial issues that plague everyday Americans. The biggest difference between the leaders of then and those of today is that the wealthy people who signed the Declaration of Independence committed their own money and high treason to the cause. Had they failed, they would have been hanged by the neck until dead. Today, politicians never seem to face financial ruin for their poor choices.
If a family didn’t like the politics of the country in the late 1700’s,they could simply escape to a frontier where they worked and lived by sweat. These pioneers built, lived and died on their own and on their own terms. Now, almost every aspect of daily life revolves around government policy; there is no escape to a frontier, that frontier does not exist. Poor decisions then would not have affected the population like they do now.
Onethoughtless or selfish decision or policy made by a group of politicians or people put in a position of power these days can wipe out people’s savings, jobs and homes anywhere in the world. If politicians have the desire to, they can enact a policy and decide all while that the working American foots the bill. Basically, the politics of 1776 risked it all, the politics of now risk nothing. So, did they do it for themselves or not?
This is a question still debated over coffee and open flame. With that all being said, a week before the signing of the Declaration of Independence was chaos. The war was on and the British were attacking forts and homes across two fronts. The Americans built a makeshift fort to guard Charleston Harbor and made it of Palmetto wood, a soft wood to be exact. The fort was manned by just a few patriots. Despitethe hours and hours of British bombing, the fort stood because the wood absorbed the shelling instead of shattering.
It was an American victory that beefed up the morale of the army. This was a victory that was made during Thomas Jefferson’s presenting his draft of the Declaration of Independence. Also, a plot to kill George Washington by those still loyal to the crownhad been uncovered in mid-June 1776. From the mayor of New York to Washingtons’ own bodyguards, the plan to kill him was extensive.
This is now known as the Hickey Plot, named for Thomas Hickey, a man who was among those Washington trusted most. Hickey lives in infamy as the first American soldier executed for treason. With so many different happenings leading up to the signing, one mustremember that the war was already being fought, and devastation was everywhere. After many years of conflict, war finally ended, and the the signing of the Treaty of Paris officially gave us our leave from the British.
Once the war was over, the truth and new reality of the War for Independence soon became evident to the people. The only thing that seemed to change was where taxes were paid. Merchants’ ships still sailed into harbors but under a new flag. The economic leaders, loyalists andwealthy who didn’t lose their fortunes due to the war now dictated the future of the new America in much the same way they did before. Nothing changed, it just got worse. Regardless ofthe thousands of farms that laid in ashes, regardless of the thousands of patriot graves all along the fronts,the war had to be paid for, and it would cost the people plenty. No war would ever destroy the fundamental human nature of power, greed and politics, and the quest for power and land never stopped.
This is a bitter reality often masked by a celebration. With the never-changingpower play in politics, the idea that while the country had her revolution andrealization that nothing would change human nature for power, something else happened. We became a country free to determine our own fates as families and hard-working individuals. We had a blank slate -a messy one, but a place where people and not kings could dictate their own destiny however they saw fit.
Americans now had rights and could fight for a way of life…at least until the changes that started during the 20th century. We inherited the dream so long ago, and it’s ours to keep or to lose.From 1776 to present day, all a person has to do is look at America’s history – it is full of both atrocities and greatness, innovations and inventions, and the very people who have a dream and a desire have the opportunity to make this country great.
We can see the inheritance this week as the town of Clay has been getting all dolled up for this Wednesday’s celebration. Local crews have been sweeping, cleaning and pouring their hearts into getting ready for folks to enjoy themselves. We are a deep rural community, and for many, their lives are just like the ancestors of 1776 -you’re born, raised, leave the nest, find your niche, make a living, pay taxes and have children, and the cycle starts all over again.
There will be plenty of festivities to enjoy and some great fireworks, I’m sure. Just like Clay, many communities across this great country will come together as one to celebrate the real beauty of this land and that’s her people. The American spirit is not about politicians nor the power hungry, money-grubbing greedy folks. The spirit of America is about the simple life of freedom and opportunity, and theseideas have made our country what it is today despite the daily attempts to destroy it by those who “know what’s best for us.”
As long asthe people who makethis land great still come together and unify, the promise of a better country and a better life isstill alive for future generations. The heartbeat of this country is found in the small and quiet efforts of people looking out for each other, building businesses, raising families and relying on the power of the American spirit. Where else can one do that? Only in America. Happy 250th Birthday America; you are still the greatest place on earth to live!
