Two hundred forty-eight years ago, American independence was proclaimed. Today, the America First Policy Institute is following the tradition of our Founding Fathers and igniting the spirit of the Revolution in the minds and hearts of modern Americans.
Unfortunately, under the current administration, we’ve seen a shift away from traditional American values. From removing the celebration of the meaning of Easter in favor of a so-called “trans holiday,” to overshadowing Memorial Day with the anniversary of George Floyd’s death, there’s been a concerted effort to undermine our national heritage.
So, as we gather to celebrate American independence, we must remember that this day isn’t just about fireworks, barbecues, and parades. It’s about understanding the importance of freedom and what it means for our children’s futures — and it’s about reflecting on our nation’s incredible journey and the enduring spirit of liberty that binds us all.
On July 4, 1776, a brave group of patriots declared our nation’s independence, setting forth a vision of a land where liberty and freedom reign. But actually achieving American independence, establishing it as an enduring fact, required something not only after July 4, 1776, but also in the years leading up to it.
What was required after that historic day was obvious enough: The newly born United States had to fight and defeat the most powerful nation in the world. The Americans knew the odds, and yet, they pressed forward with their fight anyway.
What was required before the Declaration of Independence was something else altogether. The American Revolution was underway over a full year before it. We must then look to June 4, 1774, when a group of people gathered in then-frontier Pennsylvania to issue a set of resolves. These men, gathering at Hanover, have been mostly forgotten by history, eclipsed by the great events that rapidly succeeded them. Timothy Green, Thomas Copenhaver, and several of their neighbors formed a militia and issued a declaration that read, in part, “In the event of Great Britain attempting to force unjust laws upon us by strength of arms, our cause we leave to Heaven and our rifles.”
What happened at Hanover was echoed across the American colonies, as men looked to power and said, "No more." This is precisely what former President John Adams meant when he wrote that the real work of revolution was achieved long before July 4, 1776:
“[W]hat do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people, a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. … This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution.”
Today we reclaim the spirit of Independence Day. We stand as proud Americans, committed to preserving the liberties and freedoms that make our nation exceptional — committed to the “minds and hearts of the people,” the safeguards of our liberties.
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At the America First Policy Institute, that is where our labor lies every day.
From the America First Policy Institute family to yours, Happy Independence Day.
Brooke Leslie Rollins is the President & CEO of the America First Policy Institute and former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.
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