Independence Day

On 4th July, it will be exactly two hundred and thirty eight years since the Declaration of Independence was first signed by the Continental Congress. Incredible!

The committee who drafted the original was headed by Thomas Jefferson, and included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R Livingston. After numerous changes to the initial draft, a vote was taken from the thirteen colonies, of which nine voted in favor. Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted no, Delaware was undecided and New York abstained. John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, then signed the Declaration to make it official.

In the years that have followed, fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies have all become the tradition we keep alive to celebrate America's birthday, and in the Norris household, early on Friday morning, myself and Joy will be heading down to the park with a picnic, to find a spot which will fit all of our family members, and give us a decent view of the fireworks to come!

Although before that, I just listened to a brand new show, called The Longest Hour, broadcast by the Family Theater in 1953, which I'll make sure to add to RUSC before we head out. It's a fine, patriotic 4th of July drama, with Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and the other founding fathers, arguing over the wording of the Declaration of Independence. 

"It is the night of July 1st, 1776. In a small, stuffy anteroom of the Pennsylvania State House, at Philadelphia, five weary men, working by candlelight, are gathered about a writing desk littered with crumpled sheets of paper. They're tired, their nerves are on edge and their patience is at the breaking point. John Adams addresses the men, feeling that he needs to again explain the brutal truth. Unless there is a paradigm shift in each individuals' opinion, the Declaration of Independence will never be completed in time!" 

For this important day in history, Joy and I have put together a selection of old time radio shows relating to America's day of Independence, which you can view if you click here. 

I hope that you enjoy listening to the shows we've chosen, and that you have a great time over the long weekend.

Happy listening my friends,