In my travels, I’m often struck by how young the United States of America is relative to other nations. Here are some of the oldest civilizations according to the World Population Review: Iran (3200 BC), Egypt (3100 BC), Vietnam (2879 BC), Armenia (2492 BC), Korea (2333 BC), China (2070 BC), India (2000 BC), Israel (1300 BC), Japan (660 BC). Then, there’s France (5th century) and England (927 AD).
Since the USA was only founded in 1776, we Americans could be regarded as mere toddlers by these countries. It’s amazing what this country has achieved in its short 247-year-old history. I hope the animosity and malice stemming from the national debates on racism, transgenderism, diversity-equity-and-inclusion, abortion, affirmative action, student loans, Covid, taxes, economy, and politics, won’t render null the sacrifices of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Here are the numbers:
56 men represented the 13 colonies in 1776.
14 of the representatives were from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. These four states were known as the New England Colonies. Little did these colonies know that they were going to separate from their old motherland.
21 representatives were from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. These four states were the Middle Colonies because they were located in the middle of the east coast.
21 representatives were from the Southern Colonies of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. (No Florida.)
The youngest signer was 26 years old, Edward Rutledge.
The oldest signer was the famous Benjamin Franklin at 70 years old. He’s the face on the $100 bill.
Eight signers were British; the rest were born in America.
Only one was Roman Catholic, Charles Carroll. The rest were Deists and Protestants.
Mr. Carroll was also the richest of the signers, and he outlived the others, dying 56 years after the Declaration. He was from Maryland.
Two became presidents of the USA. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
25 were lawyers.
11 were merchants.
Nine were plantation owners.
By signing on the Declaration of Independence, they knowingly risked imprisonment, the loss of their wealth, and death for treason.
Five signers were captured and tortured by the British for treason.
Nine fought in the Revolutionary War and died.
Some had their homes vandalized, looted, or destroyed by the British army.
They knew when they signed the Declaration that they were putting a big target on their backs as well as their family members. Nevertheless, they believed in the cause, and were willing to put their money where their mouths were. How many of us would have done the same?
Gave my Happy 4th of July on another Post, yet again, Happy 4th for our American Friends!!! 😀
Happy Birthday America!!! 🥳🥳🥳
Thank you for the history. 🙌🏻 That is very young. 😊
Enjoy and eat lots for me. ☺️
In Mesoamerica, the Olmec civilization spanned 1200-400 BCE. They constructed stone pyramids; were ruled by kings; domesticated beans and cacao (yea! chocolate!); developed writing; played a ballgame; and left behind monuments (most notably big heads), sculptures, and other artifacts.
Iceland held its first parliament, the Althingi, in 930 CE/AD.
Yup, the good ol’ U. S. of A. is a newbie in comparison. All eras have their troubles; I hope the distress this nation is currently experiencing are growing pains.
Yes, @Welmaris, we’re totally newcomers.
When my boys started traveling to Europe on their own, I gave them the holy Sermon on how to avoid being THAT uncouth, noisy, embarrassing American tourist.
It saddened me though that while American tourists have become more accepted (bec they’re generous tippers??🙂), our foreign diplomacy and national state of affairs have become an international joke. I was given an earful when I was in Vietnam, Singapore, and XYZ country recently about our “interference” and incompetence.
Sigh. Everybody’s a critic but a listener I must be.
@Packmule3, I can imagine how trying it must be to hold your tongue when you have your own opinions but must be diplomatic. Not to say all criticism of actions in and by our country–past, recent, and current–are off the mark.
I’d like to share here a quote from today’s post by Heather Cox Richardson, a historian I follow: “Our nation is a work in progress, as it always has been, but there is a whole new generation stepping into the fray.”
Happy 4th of July @Packmule3 and to all my friends who celebrate it!
I was offline yesterday so the day passed without notice until the evening when I got a text. I miss the celebrations that epitomised feelings of patriotism and the summertime.
We’re travelling atm and enjoying the Old World. I was reflecting that some things I’m enjoying predate Columbus’s arriving in North and Central America.
Thank you for this helpful brief history of who and what was involved @Packmule3.
I read with interest – didn’t have a detailed awareness of who was involved in the Declaration.
Will read up on this. Btw, was born in the States so have dual nationality but ,having lived in the UK since I was a toddler, my perspective is very European.
Thanks for the wealth of info @pkml3. I guess by now it’s the end of the day for you and the skies above may be bright with fireworks?
Happy Independence Day and may the growth from toddlerhood (is that called the terrible twos and turbulent threes LOL) to childhood be smoother and more peaceful!
On a sidenote, today 5th of July but of 1811 we Venezuelans signed our Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Spain.
It was done with representatives of 7 of the 10 provinces of the Captainship General of Venezuela (hence the 7 stars in our former flag) here in Caracas in the Santa Rosa de Lima Chapel in front of the Bolívar Square, in what today is the Municipal Palace of Caracas. It is a rather small place which has been tastefully NOT remodeled and still has terracotta floors.
For us it was a normal Holiday, a non-working one. Since our fall into an unenlightened dictatorship we serfs don’t think about it too much, some of my friends even mistakenly thinks that we should have never seceded from Spain… right now we could have been part of the European Union!!! XD XD XD XD XD XD
I don’t think so. This is a bitter moment in our History but even if a moment in History swallows the lifetime of millions of people (me included), it is but a small part of a greater succession of events.
What you did not mention, dear @PM3, is how wise those 56 Representatives of the Colonies were. They thought of your Country as a newborn child that could walk among giants and they selflessly made their best efforts to send it in the right direction. All that bickering (Federalist Papers included!!!) was people doing their best to make their experiences matter and to make the best of their lifetime to serve that purpose.
On the other hand the real founder of Venezuela, General José Antonio Páez and his people decided to run this country as if it were a personal ranch. They had the power to create a beautiful country yet decided to get rich and do whatever they wanted. As you can imagine they were eventually overthrown and our 19th century was spent on sublevation after sublevation. Instability at its best.
Personally I think America has done more good than harm, and as you said, your country is a work in progress.
Belated best wishes for a happy Independence Day. I hope everyone enjoyed a nice holiday. Thanks for an interesting post, @pm3.
Some people my wonder why George Washington, known as the “Father of Our Country” is not a signer on the Declaration. This is because he was already busy as Commander of the Continental Army preparing to defend New York City from the British, and was unable to be in Philadelphia. He received a letter from John Hancock and read the Declaration to the troops on July 9, 1776. America was now officially at war with Britain.
Even though he missed signing the Declaration, Washington would be present at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia 1787. He was unanimously elected president of the Convention and his guidance was key during the debate and process of creating the new Constitution. He would later be elected as the first President of the United States. His other important gift was when he voluntarily left office after 2 terms and insisted on a smooth transition of power.
Wisely said @FGB. Thanks for the info on your 1811 Independence Day. I guess we can wish you a happy Independence Day too!
Thanks @Table for info on why the first US president was not a signatory of the Declaration. His move to pass on power was very wise and a hard act to follow!
Belated Happy Independence Day @FGB4877. Venezuela in the EU is an intriguing thought. How interesting it would be if more of the North, Central and South American countries stayed linked with the European countries they were colonised by! What was the difference between the English-Canadian interactions and English-New English interactions that made the Canadians content to stick to England but the Americans desperate to leave?
I think Canada was perhaps the latest of American colonies to leave their European founders, in 1931. But Canada became a member of the British Commonwealth. As such, Canadians can apply for privileges in the UK that other immigrants may not have, such as use of Canadian driving license, Right of Abode, Visa-free travel, etc. I seem to recall that Canadians may vote in certain elections — a Canadian friend who lived here could have voted in the Brexit elections but didn’t. At the time I wished I could have voted, but as an American, even with a settlement visa, I wasn’t allowed.
While looking at some Canadian history just now, I realised that some of the Great Lakes and lands between the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers, became territory of the Province of Quebec in 1763. If the lines hadn’t been redrawn as they were after the American Revolution, I might have been Canadian because I was born in that region. Interesting!
I realise that I know so little about the relationships between European countries and their colonies in America. Any updates or corrections will be cheerfully received.
Annyeong 💗
@PM3 if this was a FB post, i would hit the “share” button. i really love it!
our 4th was lowkey – we watched “sound of freedom” that talks about children in sex trafficking. heartbreaking. this movie wants the truth out there – to set these children free.
i have the same prayer – that this country will continue to have the fear of the Lord and not waste what this 56 signers sacrificed and all the blood shed.
Let freedom ring!
@Fern, I don’t know how accurate this is, but I once heard that during the American Revolution, one-third of the Colonists wanted to separate from England (Patriots), one-third preferred
staying under British rule (Loyalists), and one-third wanted to remain neutral. Many Loyalists fled to Canada as the tide turned against them.
Test: Re-subscribing to this thread.
Dear @GB, I don’t click on the e-mail notifications (just look manually Posts for new additions), but would love to help you check if your preferences are working as they should.
Hope your busy times gets resolved in the best way possible,
FGB
Hi @FGB Yay!!! thanks for posting on this thread. I was able to get your post in email, which means the subscription is working again. What a relief!
I’m taking the day off to get my PC fixed or at least to start getting it fixed, assuming it can be fixed. But I should be busy with other stuff too and of course trying to cram in a drama or 3!!!
What are you watching now?