Fourth of July

Most people know that on the July 4th, fireworks go off and people have barbecues.  Out of those people, most know why we celebrate that day.  If you ask a child, he or she will say "We have picnics and watch fireworks, but that's all.  The reason behind the celebration gets lost.  As the child grows up, he or she learns the real meaning behind the celebration of the 4th of July.

Our flag - fly it high and proud to celebrate freedom!

Independence Hall - where the Declaration was signed

The Signers' Hall

On this day in Philadelphia, representatives from the 13 original colonies finally agreed on the Declaration of Independence.  Just two days before, New York had abstained.  The Founding Fathers firmly believed that in order for this new nation to be a success, there needed to be unanimous agreement when it came to declaring independence against Great Britain.

No pens back then - ink and a quill

Statue of the Signer in Philadelphia

Five men worked tireless hours to make the document exactly what all men would agree upon.  Thomas Jefferson was the main writer of the text.  John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston were part of the committee to create the declaration.  Jefferson was chosen as the chief writer because the others knew he had a definite way with words.

Graff House - now known as Declaration House

Room at Graff House where Jefferson slept

Jefferson were retire to the Graff House (now known as Declaration House) each night to review the recommendations members of Congress made.  While he sat there, he would change words and phrases until he came up with something the members would agree upon. Jefferson was a bit of a perfectionist and was determined to rewrite the Declaration until all members were in agreement.

Every day there is a ceremonial reading of the Declaration

Several copies were made of the final draft - to be sent to each colony (now a state) to be read aloud to patriots and families who gathered in squares and churches to hear the famous words.  At the time, there were approximately 2.5 million people in the United States of America.  Today, there are over 300 million people.

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

Did you know that two US presidents died on the 4th of July?  Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day - exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. They died within hours of each other.

The Fourth of July has been a federal holiday since 1941 even though the celebration of this day has been going on since the Declaration was first signed in 1776.

Albert Gallatin

Who is Albert Gallatin?

When walking through Washington, DC, one comes across many statues of famous people in American history.  Some of them we know. Others we are not familiar with and Albert Gallatin was one of them.  I decided to do a bit of research so others might understand why this man has a statue outside the Treasury Building just down from the White House.

Albert Gallatin was born in 1761, right around the time American was going through its turmoil and becoming a country of its own.  He was not born in American at all, but in Switzerland to a wealthy family. He emigrated to the fledgling country in 1780 – our freedom won, but the new country on shaky legs as it began to formulate its rules and rights. He was strongly opposed to a strong government and was actually a founder of the Anti-Federalist party, later known as the Republican Party.

He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1795 and served there until 1801.  He was constantly battling with Alexander Hamilton, who at the time was the current Secretary of the Treasury.   He sponsored a law declaring the Treasury should provide an overview of its reports to Congress.  He felt the treasury should be accountable to not only the government but the people as well.

Thomas Jefferson made him Secretary of Treasury in 1801 and he served in that capacity until 1813.  He helped reduce the federal debt He used internal taxes to pay for the War of 1812 but it was not enough.  He fought to restart the First Bank of the United States but Congress refused to agree. He finally resigned in 1814, certain financial disaster was imminent.

He was part of the peace conference between England and Russia. He was there when the Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1814.

Other facts about Albert Gallatin:

1.      Graduated from University of Geneva in 1779

2.      Settled in Boston in 1780

3.      Served in Revolutionary War

4.      Taught French at Harvard University

5.      Member of Constitutional Convention in 1789

6.      US Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to France 1815-1823

7.      Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain 1826-1827

8.      President of National Bank of NY

So next time you are in Washington, DC and you are walking past the first Federal Reserve Bank and see the statue, you will now know who Albert Gallatin was.

We Must All Agree

Go back in time to the 1770s. Imagine you are meeting with men from all over the country. While you are there you must discuss what is best for the people from your town and county.  You also must listen to everyone else discuss what they think is best as well.  Finally, you must all agree on what action to take.

Inside Carpenter's Hall

Does this sound familiar to you?  These types of discussions go on daily in Congress.  The very precepts of Congress are based on the actions of men who got together over 200 years ago.  The 12 of the 13 colonies - Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts sent representatives to Philadelphia to discuss declaring independence from Great Britain.  Only Georgia did not send anyone because it was not invited.  Apparently it was considered a true state at the time.

Furniture they actually sat in all those years ago!

This momentous event - the First Continental Congress in 1774.  The colonies were upset over the different acts England was passing. The men met at Carpenter's Hall.  For weeks they discussed what action to take and finally decided to boycott British goods.  This means they refused to buy anything from Britain!!

Carpenter's Hall

Finally they agreed to meet again the following year to discuss what their next steps should be!

I will give you five names of men present.  Can you tell me more?

1. Patrick Henry - the man who said "Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!"
2. George Washington - our first president
3. John Dickinson - became a governor of Pennsylvania
4. Peyton Randolph - speaker of the House of Burgesses in Virginia
5. Samuel Adams - a governor of Massachusetts

Our Founding Fathers

Before our Founding Fathers could write the Declaration of Independence, they had to convince their colonies to go against the most powerful country in the world - Great Britain. This was not an easy task. All land-holding males of voting age were eligible to vote that day. In Virigina, the men insisted on a unanimous decision. If all of them did not agree to go against Great Britain, then the colony would not have voted for it. George Washington was voted to be in charge of the army. This was a task he did not relish, or look forward to. He was a gentleman farmer and wanted to return to farming as soon as he was done. He even longed to go sooner, but knew his country needed him.

While in Virginia, we had an opportunity to meet George Washington and ask him questions about his strategy. Here are some pictures of the day George came to visit us.

Here is George Washington as he rallies the men in Williamsburg to fight. He rode into the city to speak to the citizens before heading to Yorktown to fight Cornwallis.

The next time we see George was during a visit he made to use, letting us know what our duties would be. Many women wanted to offer assistance but he felt we could best serve our country by staying here and guarding our homes and helping the wounded as they were sent from the battlefield. The men would be welcome additions if they were ready and able to fight the last fight. Several men offered to join a special troop called the Forlorn Hope - who would attack the enemies redoubts, knowing their chances of survival were small.  Many brave men offered to join any way. Here's to our brave men and women - hip hip huzzah!