Eighth Week of Writing “Jefferson’s Masterpiece”

The historical fiction story of Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence – Jefferson’s Masterpiece – is almost finished. All I have left to write is what took place on August 2, 1776, the iconic day the delegates signed the Declaration.

The days I wrote about last week provide insight into events that many people, especially children, don’t know much about: (1) Who printed the first Declaration? (2) How did news about the Declaration get out? (3) How and when did King George learn about the Declaration? (4) Where and when was the first public reading of the Declaration? (5) Who informed General George Washington about the Declaration and what did he do? (6) Why was the title of the Declaration changed from what Jefferson entitled it?

Here are excerpts from six eventful days in July 1776:

FRIDAY, JULY 5

(I neglected to mention this date in last week’s Journal)

John Dunlap’s young apprentice delivered the first printed copies of the Declaration of Independence to Charles Thomson. After the teenage boy left, he carefully folded one and placed it between the pages of the Journal of the Continental Congress. . . .

“Mr. Hancock,” Thomson said when Hancock arrived, “these were delivered just a short while ago. I took one and placed it in the Journal. The printed version looks good. I think John did a good job. And he met your deadline, too.”

Hancock looked at the printed copies of the Declaration as Thomson spoke. Other delegates had walked up to look at them.

SATURDAY, JULY 6

Later that afternoon when everyone had left, Secretary Thomson prepared the letter [written by John Hancock] and Declaration to be sent to England. It was addressed to Lord George Germain, who was Secretary of State for America. He was responsible for the administration of the American colonies and for suppressing the revolt against British rule. . . .

Three months would pass before King George III received news about the Declaration of Independence.

MONDAY, JULY 8

The Pennsylvania State House bell began to ring at the noon hour calling citizens for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Within minutes, the yard behind the State House was full of anxious spectators. . . .

Colonel John Nixon, a member of the Philadelphia Committee of Safety, mounted the platform that had been constructed for this special occasion. He looked out over the sea of faces. The crowd grew silent. In a loud, clear voice he began to read – enunciating each word very carefully.

TUESDAY, JULY 9

“Sir, I have a dispatch from Philadelphia,” announced Alexander Hamilton to General Washington as he entered the room. “It’s from Congress.” . . .

He called Hamilton into his office when he finished reading the letter. … “I would like to address the troops,” he calmly told Hamilton. “Issue a general order for them to assembly at 6 o’clock.” . . .

Hours later, Washington rode Nelson, his chestnut colored horse, to where the troops were waiting. The American army was only miles away from the Redcoats stationed in New York and the armada of English ships docked in the harbor

MONDAY, JULY 15

The New York delegates presented a resolution to Congress that permitted them to belatedly vote for the Declaration of Independence. After months of delay, the New York Provincial Congress had adopted a resolution on July 9th that gave the four New York delegates permission to vote for independence.

FRIDAY, JULY 19

Since all thirteen colonies had voted to approve the Declaration, some delegates suggested that the title of the Declaration should be changed. Late that morning someone made a motion that was accepted by all the delegates to change the title from “A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of American” to “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen States of America.”

This week I will combine historical fact with fiction to offer a glimpse of what might have taken place when our founding fathers signed the document that transformed colonial America into the United States of America.

I also hope to begin the editing and rewriting phase, which will probably take several weeks.

Thanks for reading today’s Journal,

Dennis