The first Americans came by boat around 30,000 years ago. Another wave of immigrants crossed the land bridge 13,000 years ago. After Columbus, several European tribes came to settle in communities—e.g. the Spanish, French, English and Dutch. After many failed attempts, the English were able to establish 13 colonies in Eastern America. Fifty-six of their delegates met to establish our own founding documents, the 3 Charters of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence described the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. The Constitution defined the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. The Bill of Rights, which is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, described the rights of citizens and states in relation to the Government.
Who were these people? Why did they take this extreme action? Some of the English left their homeland for religious freedom, others to make a fresh start, others for peace and the ability to choose their own path in life in a very big country blessed with rich natural resources. During the 200 years to develop the English colonies, there was the fragmentation of Christendom, increasing nationalism and persistent conflict in Europe culminating in the major “7 Years War” involving all the great powers (17561763). It was mirrored in the colonial rivalry between Great Britain and France. The French and Indian War (1754-1763) started in America and spread to the rest of the world. The order to fire the first shots of conflict was given by a young officer from Virginia named George Washington. Britain won but was in serious financial trouble. Their solution was to increase taxes. Two new taxes on America were the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765 (for stamped paper required for newspapers and legal documents). In 1767 new taxes were placed on tea, lead, paint, paper and glass. Most colonists protested, sometimes violently, and often simply refused to pay. Custom officials demanded tea on British soldiers, seized a merchant’s ship, killed a local teenager, and then 5 others in the Boston Massacre. The new Tea Tax (1773) emphasized the unfairness that none of the colonists were members of the British Parliament to represent American concerns about the imposed laws and taxes. The Boston Tea Party led to Britain closing Boston’s port to all trade and making town meetings and assemblies illegal. All 13 colonies met to ask Britain and “good” King George to remove the Intolerable Acts, and boycotted British goods while starting to form colonial militias. The British just sent more soldiers. Including foreign mercenaries, men who were to be quartered in private homes. Trial by jury was discontinued.
The Colonies had their own cultural identity and knew of the Enlightenment ideals of natural rights, governance by consent, and that all men are created equal. Of the 56 delegates that were present at the signing of the Declaration, 54 were married, in 15 cases to a second wife because of the death of the first wife. In 5 cases the deaths were related to childbirth. There was a total of 358 children but only 270 survived into adulthood. During the Revolution, disease and infection were deadlier to soldiers than combat wounds. Amputations were done without anesthesia. There were no antibiotics to treat infections. Doctors were trained through apprenticeships, not by attending medical school. The cause of disease was “nonvisible vapors” or “imbalance of humors.” There was no knowledge of germ theory or sanitation. George Washington, who survived two wars, died after he left office because of a sore throat and perhaps two enemas, three bleedings, and the use of leeches. However, he seemed to be more spiritually free from illness by mass inoculations of smallpox. Smallpox was of epidemic proportions from 1775-1782, following the epidemics of 1721, 1752, and 1764. Smallpox left facial and other disfigurements. It had a death rate of 30%. Monstrous size, the eyes entirely closed, the lips swollen and a livid color, the face and surface of the whole body were with red unalterable pustules, from which matter exuded. A smell like that of rotting flesh was produced, and a peculiar stench was generally so remarkable a feature of the illness.” In general, anyone with a pockmark symbolized being marked by God.
Another threat to their union was the Declaration of Independence and creating the Constitution. For some this led to banishment, murder and loss of property. For others, it was treason, punished by death, imprisonment, and harsh treatment. For others, of somewhat lesser importance was the timing, the alternates, the walking out and coming back, the “trying to understand an opposing view or belief, the need to compromise, the heartfelt need to dream the impossible dream of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.”
It was done. And each man pledged his life, fortune and sacred honor to the birth of a very special nation.