The Age of George III

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The American Declaration of Independence: 4 July 1776

For many Americans, the word "independence" was a frightening thing even as late as March 1776 and there were fears that if independence was declared, the colonies would embark on internecine civil war. However, from February 1776 the revolutionary leaders in Congress were increasingly aggressive. They urged their colonial governments to send instructions favourable to independence in order that existing instructions from colonies opposed to independence could be countered.

• On 12 April the North Carolina convention authorised its delegates at the second Continental Congress to join with others in declaring independence and forming foreign alliances.
• On 4 May, Rhode Island declared its independence from Britain.
• On 15 May, Virginia instructed its delegates at the congress to move for independence, foreign alliances and the formation of a confederation.
• On 27 May the Virginia and North Carolina delegates informed congress of their instructions and
• on 7 June, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia moved in Congress:

John Hancock, one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence

The motion was seconded by John Adams. The motion was debated for two days but a final vote was delayed for three weeks because of the instructions against independence from colonies such as Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, a committee comprising Thomas Jefferson (Virginia), Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania) Roger Sherman (Connecticut), John Adams (Massachusetts) and Robert R Livingston (New York) was appointed to produce a draft declaration of independence. At the same time a committee chaired by John Dickinson (Pennsylvania) comprising one man from each colony was appointed to draft articles of confederation.

• On 1 July 1776 Lee's motion was debated again and John Dickinson made a formal speech in opposition. Nine colonies voted for the resolution; Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted against it. The New York delegates did not vote because of their instructions and the two delegates from Delaware were divided. At the request of South Carolina, the final decision was delayed until the following day.
• On 2 July the South Carolina delegates voted for the resolution and the arrival of a third member from Delaware broke the deadlock in their votes. John Dickinson and Robert Morris of Pennsylvania did not attend the meeting of Congress and the other delegate from that colony switched his vote, allowing Pennsylvania to register a vote for the motion. Only the New York delegation refused to vote because it was still bound by its instructions.
• Eventually, on 4 July, all the colonies voted in favour of the resolution and America declared its independence from Britain.

It is interesting to note the absence of John Dickinson's signature on the formal document, the text of which is produced elsewhere.