Valleydale High School - Conquest Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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General Washington worked through the fall of '75, reviewing his military assets and liabilities. He visited the various commanders and built con- fidence in his chain of command. Recruiting was difficult because many had enlisted for only eight months and would have to be talked into re-enlisting. The only arms they had were their personal rifles. The present extent of Washing- ton's artillery was that captured from the British at Ticonderoga, 300 wilderness miles away from Boston where it was needed. During the December 31st attack on the citadel city of Quebec, a devastating defeat was suffered by the American armies in the north and many fine troops were wasted in the deadly cold and snow. General Richard Montgomery was killed and Colonel Benedict Arnold was wounded. It was a demoralized force that retreated back through the ice and snow down the St. Lawrence to old Fort Ticonderoga that January, and only through the courage displayed by Arnold were they able to persevere. Later that spring the Brit- ish sent a flotilla with additional men into Canada. In Boston, General Howe quietly replaced Gen- eral Gage as British Commander. While Boston lay blockaded to the East, and the Northern armies of Benedict Arnold licked their wounds and tried to regroup after defeat, the Con- tinental Congress debated what the next course of action should be for the colonies in their relation- Here for l the first time the thoughts John Adams i had voicdd were articulated in every day language l for everyone to read. An attack on the very institution of Royalty, Common Sense helped promote the idea of independence as a concept to be sought by all people. Early in the spring of 1776, King George's mes- i sage to arliament reached the colonies. The few , I remaining conservative elements in Congress who i believed reconciliation was possible were most disturbed labeled a . The colonies' protest for rights was desperate conspiracy to establish an i independent empire. England l to fightin The only Knox, wi delivered iired mercenaries from central Germany i the colonies under the British flag. good news that spring was that Henry th a group of teamsters and oxen, had 59 excellent field pieces of every des- cription Etnd size to Boston after weeks ofjourney through reacherous snow from Fort Ticonderoga. After one surprise bombardment, the British eva- l cuated tk ieir troops from Boston. The Americans' , joy was overshadowed by the realization that the l British w Accepting thirteen mittee to ould return f perhaps landing. resolutions from the delegates of the , colonies, Congress appointed a com- draft a response to the Crown, against l such time as a vote for independence should take ship with England. place. Conservatives were afraid that any further talk of Fgrming the Cgmmittee were John Adams, cousin , Independence would mean Suicide for the 001- of the militant Sam Adamsg Benjamin Franklin, onies. They argued that it had been the English the learned doctor, printer, statesman and writerg Parliament and not the King that had injured them. About this time, the Englishman Thomas Paine, newcomer to the colonies and friend of Ben Franklin, issued a pamphlet entitled Common Sense. f-is i SC :Try Q . in !.,,,-- A OIN PL Fe DIE f ,gifs o 1- t fre: -' 'fwsg -P ef-ii ff . .. B :--f 1. 1' at . 6 - V- ggldwwgpggfglf-,i.. Y 'ti-kt 3. wig? T ,nw 5 -,4fQ.y:3'r, :--N' W- i.'.':ziCI '-43-453:,f'?iQ: NE ' glut- M . ,- ', s, and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, wh

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eed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and tra

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Thomas Jefferson, the thirty-three year old law- yer from Virginia who brought with him a repu- tation for literature, science, and a happy talent for compositiong Roger Sherman from Connecti- cutg and Robert R. Livingston of New York. The actual task of drafting the paper fell to Jefferson, who protested that he already had pressing busi- ness in Williamsburg - that of drafting a work- able constitution for Virginia. The protestations were waved aside, and he was left alone to choose the words that would create a new republic. Oc- casionally during those days before July, Franklin or another colleague would visit to offer a minor change. On or about the 28th of June, Jefferson copied his rough draft, on which all later major changes were noted. The copy was presented to Congress the 'sFirst day of July, 1776. The Declaration was read and opened for debate. John Dickenson of Pennsylvania strongly ob- jected to the document: I had rather forfeit popularity forever, than vote away the blood and happiness of my Countryman . . . it is like destroy- ing our house in winter . . . before we have another shelter. Thus argued the man who would later defend America as a private in the Continental Army. John Adams spoke later in the day, as lightning crashed and driving rain pounded the Philadelphia State House. Nature herself, it seemed, suffered the selfsame pangs as those locked in heated debate within. The following day, as more delegates arrived, the vote for independence was taken and approved. Now it remained to vote for the Declaration itself, which would explain to the world why the fight for independence was necessary. Tyranny, like Hell, is not .ly 9081 conquered: yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph. On t ago, . steepl from bell vx libertj habit: Thomas Paine 1776 his anniversary day, two hundred years Iuly 4, 1776, a bellman was waiting in the e of the red brick State House for a signal a boy stationed at the door below. On the 'as an inscription from Leviticus: Proclaim v throughout all the land unto all the in- ints thereof . Early in the evening, the boy clapped his hands and shouted, 'fRingl Ring! It was a jubilant sound signaling the colonies, proclamation of freedom, yet doleful in its warn- ing of the dangers which lay ahead. A new nation would now have to earn its declared freedom. To - U do so its citizens pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. vtls are sufferable, than to right themselves by ng the forms to which they are accu