We think of July 4, 1776, as the start of our Nation’s independence, which it certainly was – our “Declaration of Independence” making clear our intentions, objectives, and the reasons for them. We will celebrate our 250th anniversary in a few weeks. But late June 1776 was decisive.
With Lexington and Concord in April 1775 and the war’s first naval battle at Machias, Maine, that same year. Things accelerated. By mid-June 1776, multiple battles had occurred.
By June 11, the Continental Congress appointed five men – Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman – to draft the “Declaration of Independence.”
The same day, John Hancock – President of the Congress – sent a letter to colonial leaders, asking them to “call up” militia to reinforce the Colonial Army, led by Washington.
On June 12, the “Committee of 13” worked on getting colonies to coordinate under the Articles of Confederation. This same day, Virginia adopted its own “Declaration of Rights” by George Mason.
On June 13, American artillery – 200 canons recovered by Colonel Knox from Fort Ticonderoga in New York – forced an end to the British blockade of Boston harbor, a critical early victory. The same day, the Continental Congress set up a “Board of War” to oversee the war effort.
On June 16, as General Sullivan retreated from Canada and Benedict Arnold left Quebec, the British attempted to take Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina with 2800 men, but failed. The same day, the Americans took two British transports in Boston Harbor.
The operational tempo rose, with American General Sullivan being defeated at Three Rivers on June 17, triggering the elevation of General Gates to command the Northern Army. By June 21, Ben Franklin’s loyalist son William was deposed as royal governor in New Jersey; the two would not speak again.
On June 23, only eleven days before drafting the US Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote for Virginia a “state constitution.” On June 28, a British spy in Washington’s inner circle was hanged.
By June 28, Jefferson had a draft of the Declaration ready, submitted to the Continental Congress after John Adams and Ben Franklin made small revisions. Battles continued to rage to the south.
On July 1, the Continental Congress voted for the first time on the Declaration. It was approved, in draft, on July 2. Of the 13 colonies, 12 voted in favor, with New York abstaining. The final was approved on July 3, and then the final wording was approved on July 4th, 1776.
Interestingly, the formal signing – depicted widely – did not actually occur until August 2, 1776. The war was not concluded – with American victory – until September 3, 1783. As we move forward, here’s to celebrating June 1776, too!
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is the National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor (please visit BobbyforMaine.com to learn more)!
But by the Grace of God, the United States exists!
RBC, thanks for your article. I had forgotten that NY abstained from approving the Declaration. No wonder that they are in such a mess at this time.
What an interesting article ‘June 1776’. I plan to share it.
What a lovely piece of history, if only high school students were introduced to all of it , it’s scary how ignorant they are despite the tons of money spent on their “education”
Thank you Mr. Charles for this informative recap. Think I will have to re-read the book “1776” by the great Mccullough. He is my favorite U.S. history author. This country was blessed with great founding fathers. I certainly pray that we can continue to be a land of the brave and the free!
Wow! Thank you for this article! They were so busy warring even way back then! Praise God for the brave who pressed on and still do!!
Good rundown, but you left out two important dates: June 13, 1776, when Benedict Arnold sent a desperate dispatch to Major General Philip Schuyler warning that without a navy on Lake Champlain the British would slice through New York and cut the colonies in two. And July 3, when Congress voted to fund the shipbuilding program at Skenesborough, birthing America’s first inland fleet. That fleet’s battle at Valcour Island in October 1776 delayed the British invasion by a full year, buying the time needed to win Saratoga. It’s one of the most underappreciated stories of the war. The documentary “Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed” covers it all.