Be a Rabble Rouser

I’m fixing to be a rabble rouser.

The historical event when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence, resulted in the Fourth of July holiday we celebrate today, but it actually happened on July 2, 1776.

We know this to be a fact because of a letter John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail dated July 3, 1776, saying; “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

What foresight Mr. Adams had. It’s startlingly evident, because 233 years later we are doing exactly what he suggested.

The way the second got to be the fourth was when the congress turned their attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining the former resolution, and signed it on July 4, 1776.

Now all of this might not have been necessary, and we could all still have been English subjects, but for the fact that King George III needed some money to pay his war debt for the French and Indian war. Well, that was the excuse he used, but I suspect it was that the English thought we colonists were getting too big for our britches, couldn’t take care of ourselves and needed some governance to make sure we ran our businesses and lives the way they thought we should.

Sound familiar?

So Old King George and the English Parliament enacted the Sugar Act, which increased the duties on items the colonists imported. Then they enacted the Currency Act prohibiting the colonists from handling their own money.

Sound familiar?

Then came the Stamp Act, which placed taxes on newspapers, pamphlets, bills, legal documents, licenses, almanacs and all manner of things. It even placed a tax on dice and playing cards.

Sound familiar?

When the colonists began to complain and refuse to comply, the English Ministers informed Old George it was just the “rabble” who were dissenting, and who were being incited by a few “rousers.”

Now we all know that Old George was misinformed by his ministers about the current political situation and the will of the people.

Sound familiar?

The straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back was the Tea Act in May of 1773. Well we all know what happened with that. It resulted in the famous Boston Tea Party.

Lately there has been a few modern day Tea Parties across America, and certain Hollywood types have referred to their attendees as being, “rednecks and rabble.”

If Patrick Henry, J. Adams, Samuel Adams, the Sons of Liberty, and all those other great heroes of that time and place were “rabble,” then I suppose I am too.

What we’re fixing to need is a good “Rouser.”