The Independence Day (That Almost Never Was)

 

July 3, 2023

The Independence Day (That Almost Never Was)

Today’s post is about God’s intervention to save our Republic through Roger Sherman and Benjamin Franklin. I am going to venture a guess that most of you know little, if anything, about founding father, Roger Sherman. His contribution to America’s beginning was extremely important. Sherman was distinguished as the only founding father to sign all four of America’s major founding documents: The Articles of Association, 1774; The Declaration of Independence, 1776; The Articles of Confederation, 1777; and the Constitution of the United States, 1787. Can you imagine the honor?!

“Sherman was a shoe cobbler, surveyor, and merchant prior to his political career. He was a self-taught lawyer, a state senator, a superior court judge, and a judge in Connecticut for fourteen years. Later, he was a member of the Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention, where he made 138 speeches. He then became a U.S. representative from 1789-91, and at the age of 70, was elected a U.S. Senator, serving from 1791-93.”(1)

Many Americans, like me for my first 45 years of life, do not know much about the Constitutional Convention and our other founding events and documents. Here is a very brief overview of significant events leading up to and including the convention:

• In 1776, the 13 American colonies declared their independence from Britain. (The Declaration of Independence)

• The Revolutionary War took place from 1776-1783.

• During this time, the 13 United States functioned under The Articles of Confederation. The Constitution had not yet been written.

• The central government, however, had little power or income (which, generally speaking, is good) and therefore, could not effectively support an army and provide for other needs. James Madison and George Washington were among those who feared the young country was on the brink of collapse.

• In 1787, in an attempt to remedy this, a Federal Convention of the states was planned in Philadelphia. This was 11 years after the Declaration of Independence had been written. (It was not called the Constitutional Convention until later.) The delegates assumed they were meeting only to make improvements to the Articles of Confederation. While there, however, most of the delegates decided a completely new system of government was needed, not just a revision of the old. The convention lasted from May 24 to September 17; it was VERY contentious. For a while, it seemed they would fail in their efforts.(2)

“On Thursday, June 28, 1787, the deletes were embroiled in a bitter debate over how each state was to be represented in the new government. The hostile feelings created by the smaller states being pitted against the larger states, were so bitter that some delegates actually left the Convention.

“Benjamin Franklin, being the President (Governor) of Pennsylvania, was hosting the rest of the 55 delegates attending the Convention. Being the senior member of the convention at 81 years of age, he commanded the respect of all present, and, as recorded in James Madison’s detailed records, he rose to speak in this moment of crisis: 

 

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Sent in by Bear Claw