AS THE 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches, the revered document and its principal author have taken center stage in its celebration. Less known is the role of cities and towns throughout the colonies who “declared” their “independence” shortly before July 4, 1776, and encouraged their delegates in the Continental Congress to do the same. Their role as a chorus, if not catalysts, for the Declaration of July 4th should be celebrated this month as well.
The late MIT historian Pauline Maier, in her 1997 book American Scripture: The Making of the Declaration of Independence, details the
Our editorial team includes several staff writers, each contributing their specialized knowledge to enhance the depth and breadth of our event and story coverage.