T HAT enthusiastic little rebel, Rhode Island, was the first of the colonies to declare itself "free from all dependence on the crown of Great Britain." This she did on May 4, 1776. The Assembly of Virginia in the same month instructed her delegates to the Continental Congress to present to that body a proposition "affirming the independence of the colonies from Great Britain." In compliance with these instructions Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, on June 7, 1776, introduced his famous resolutions: "That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown; and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign alliances. That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective colonies for their consideration and approbation." John Adams seconded these resolutions, and an animated discussion ensued. On June 8, a committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, was appointed to draw up a declaration of independence embodying the sense of Lee's resolutions. On July 2, Lee's resolutions were passed by the vote of twelve of the thirteen colonies, the New York delegates refraining from voting for want of instructions from their province. On July 3, the formal declaration, almost precisely as written by Thomas Jefferson, was presented by the committee above named, and was debated with great spirit, John Adams being the chief speaker on the part of the committee. The discussion was resumed on the morning of the 4th, and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, after one or two slight modifications, it was adopted. The announcement was hailed with the liveliest enthusiasm. "Ring! ring!" shouted the lad stationed below to give the signal to the old bellman in the State House tower; and he did ring until the whole city shouted for joy. The King's arms were wrenched from the Court House and burned in the streets; bonfires were lighted, the city illuminated, and the exultation was prolonged far into the night. In New York City the populace hurled the leaden statute of George III. from its pedestal and molded it into bullets, and in all the great cities similar demonstrations of enthusiasm were exhibited. The_Declaration of Independence was signed August 2, 1776, when President John Hancock said, "There must be no pulling different ways, we must all hang together," to which Franklin replied, "Yes, we must all hang together, or we shall all hang separately." Union in 1845. UTAH ranks third among the States and Territories in silver, tenth in gold, fifteenth in coal, thirty-fourth in miles of railway, thirty-eighth in population. First settlement, by Americans, at Salt Lake City, 1847. Organized as a Territory in 1850. State constitutions were adopted in the same year as follows. By New Jersey (July 2), Virginia (July 5), Pennsylvania (July 15), Maryland (Aug. 14), Delaware (Sept. 20), North Carolina (Dec. 18). 1778-Independence of United States acknowledged by France by a treaty of alliance and commerce. 1779-Naval victory of John Paul Jones. 1781-A French fleet in aid of the United States drives the British from Chesapeake Bay. Surrender of Cornwallis. 1782-Independence recognized by Holland. 1783-Independence acknowledged by Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Russia, successively. Definite treaty of peace with Great Britain, Sept. 3. 1789-Formation and adoption of the Constitution. American politics begins properly with the close of the Revolu tionary war, out of which travail this nation was born. When the British departed they left behind them thirteen separate and independent States joined together in a feeble confederation and governed as a whole, so far as they would consent to be governed at all, by the inadequate Continental Congress. The finances were in a deplorable condition; the States were jealous of each other, and of the Congress. As everything was badly defined and unsettled there were constant encroachments and abuses, and it seemed that after achieving freedom America was about to cast it away. During the war there had been two parties, the Tories, who were English in sympathy, and the Whigs, who were American to the core. These gave place to two new divisions, one of which favored a closer and lasting union in which the States should bind themselves together into a compact government-called the Federalists; and one which, while generally admitting the need for a closer and more binding union, still sought to preserve the sovereignty and independence of the States-these were known as the Anti-Federalists. Our Constitution and our form of government are the result of the two opposing forces, and its great flexibility-its perfection—is to be ascribed to the wisdom with which the fathers sought out and chose what was best in the scheme of either. It is impossible here to do more than outline the growth of parties, but no man can be an intelligent voter who does not study the foundation of the republic. Every citizen should pursue this subject further in the pages of the Federalist, which argued one side of the issue, and in the writings of Thomas Jefferson, who upheld the other. It will show how high ran feeling at the time, when it is pointed out that, although the Constitution was adopted in 1787, it was ratified by but eleven States in 1788. Still this was enough to set the new nation up in business. GEORGE WASHINGTON (1789-1797) was the unanimous choice of the electoral college, and the hero of the revolution became the first President of the United States in 1789. It is not to be imagined that even at that time the people were all of one mind about the Constitution. There is no document-not even the Bible-which is not subject to different interpretations, and the great charter of our American liberties was no exception to the rule. Parties were formed known as strict constructionists and loose constructionists, the former Federalists, the latter AntiFederalists, the first believing in a strongly centralized govern ment, the second jealously observant of the rights of the States. It will be found that a close analysis of the distinction made there has been and is the dividing line of American parties ever since. Of course new issues complicated the old ones. The Anti-Federalists changed their name to the Democratic Republican party, and warmly urged the alliance with France. In the revolution which had just ended, the French alone had first come to our aid, and on land and sea had waged war upon our common enemy. Hence there was a lively sense of gratitude to that great nation throughout the country, made none the less by the establishment of the republic, and hardly destroyed by the atrocities of the Reign of Terror. The Federalists, on the other hand, inclined toward England as the national friend, through the ties of kinship and common language. In spite of these differences of opinion, which were daily growing more bitter, there was practically no partisanship during Washington's administration. He called Federalists and Anti-Federalists into his cabinet, which was composed of men of such opposite views as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and his farewell address, which every school boy has read, is full of grave warning against the evils and dangers of party spirit. But with Washington in retirement, the contest began. The Federalists put JOHN ADAMS (1797-1801) in the field, and elected him in spite of the English treaty which John Jay had made and which Adams had supported. Thomas Jefferson became vice-president, because at that time the vice-presidency went to the man receiving the next largest vote for president, a system which was in force until 1804. There were many reasons why the Federalist triumph could not be a permanent one. England was intensely unpopular, and the administration was accused of favoring that kingdom unduly. The alien and sedition laws caused an access of the public displeasure, and the party split into two sections, one following Adams, the other Hamilton. Nominations for the election were made by members of Congress; Adams and Pinkney were chosen |