Birth of the Republic
Washington
and the Continental Army won a decisive victory at Yorktown. Yet what
would
independence mean? Could so many people living in such a vast land
really
govern themselves? Many doubted, but the writing of the
Constitution
provided a resounding affirmation of “the
Glorious Cause.”
From
“The Constitutional Convention”:
At 3:00 in the afternoon, the signing began with the delegates moving
to
the front table according to the order of the states from north to
south.
When Pennsylvania's turn came, Franklin was helped to the front.
Observers
said the old man wept as he signed. Back in his seat, Franklin spoke
quietly
to a few other delegates. He referred to the sun painted on the
back
of the president's chair. “I
have often...looked at [it]...without
being
able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have
the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun.”
Franklin
was right, a new day was dawning for America.
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