In the American vocabulary, “Independence Day” is synonymous with “Stars and Stripes Party.” And it has been that way since the beginning.
Founding Father John Adams (whose name was on the Declaration of Independence that hot summer day 248 years ago) recognized that it would be a major turning point in world history. In a famous letter to his wife, he wrote, “I believe this day shall be celebrated as a great jubilee; it shall be commemorated as a day of emancipation in a solemn act of faith to Almighty God; and it shall be solemnly celebrated from one end of this continent to the other, from that time forward and for all time, with magnificent parades, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations.”
(Adams got it wrong: He claimed it should be celebrated on July 2nd, the day the Second Continental Congress voted to secede from Britain. But the actual document says July 4th, the day the resolution was unanimously approved and sent to King George III. It has been celebrated on July 4th ever since.)
This is truly a story of triumph, a David and Goliath moment when a band of courageous rebels stood up to a global superpower and prevailed against all odds. July 4, 1776, is truly a date worth celebrating.
But did you know that just a year earlier, those very same rebels were trying to make peace with the British government? This is the little-known story of the Olive Branch Petition.
Any elementary school student (at least those who lived in schools when history was taught) can tell you about the beginnings of the Revolutionary War. The Stamp Act. The Boston Tea Party. No taxation without representation. Paul Revere’s ride. Lexington and Concord. Bunker Hill.
The first year of the conflict, which began in April 1775, was eventful. The 13 colonies banded together to fight the Mother Country, hastily convened a Continental Congress, and raised an army.
But we must remember that not all colonists were patriots. In fact, the conflict they fought was both a revolution and a civil war. Roughly one-third of the population were patriots, one-third were Tories who sided with the British, and one-third just sat back and hoped things would end.
Opinion within the Continental Congress was divided: some delegates urged an immediate break with Britain, while others took a more cautious “wait and see” stance.
Meanwhile, the British considered the colonists to be spoiled, ungrateful brats who didn’t appreciate the king’s generosity, so King George III felt it was time for some “tough love” to remind them who was really boss.
After 90 days of war, the future of the fledgling patriotic cause was uncertain to say the least. Some believed that, in the words John Lennon would use 200 years later, “All we want to say is give peace a chance.”
And that is exactly what the Continental Congress did, passing the Olive Branch Petition before adjourning.
Flowery 18th-century prose aside, the document is filled with royal ass-kissing, with plenty of flattery to “His Majesty” and reminders that petitioners are “His Majesty’s loyal subjects.”
All the finer details were removed and the petition read: “We have outlined the essentials in bullet points. Give us better terms on taxes and trade regulations and everything will be back to normal. I promise you!”
He added that “the ties between our mother country and these colonies” were “a source of amazement and envy to other nations.” (Translation: “Independence? Who said independence? Wink wink.”)
The document was adopted and dutifully dispatched to London on the fastest ship.
King George III officially declared rebellion in August, effectively declaring war, and the fighting began.
It’s good to remember the resolve of our Founding Fathers when they declared our independence on July 4, 1776, but in between munching on hot dogs and setting off firecrackers, let’s take a break to appreciate that what they did on July 5, 1775 was blown away by the British.
Otherwise we would have had to have tea and crumpets and go to work on Thursday.
J. Mark Powell is a novelist, former TV journalist, and history buff. Have a historical mystery to solve? A forgotten moment worth remembering? Send it to us at HolyCow@insidesources.com.
