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Excerpted from A Great and Grateful Nation: From Grievance to Gratitude by Jane Hampton Cook.
On May 15, 1776, 112 men attended a convention in Williamsburg, Virginia. Their goal was to give instructions to the Virginia delegates for the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. They cited their attempts to reconcile with King George III.
“For as much as all the endeavors of the United Colonies, by the most decent representations and petitions to the King and Parliament of Great Britain, to restore peace and security to America under the British government, and a reunion with that people under just and liberal terms, instead of a redress of grievances, have produced, from an imperious and vindictive administration, increased insult, oppression, and a vigorous attempt to affect our total destruction,”[i] the Pennsylvania Ledger published on June 1, 1776. A year earlier the Continental Congress had sent King George III an Olive Branch Petition. Without even reading it, the king had declared war on the colonies.
Virginians had had enough. “By a late act, all these colonies are declared to be in rebellion, and out of the protection of the British Crown, our properties subjected to confiscation, our people … compelled to join in the murder and plunder of their relations and countrymen, and all former rapine and oppression of Americans declared legal and just,” the Virginia resolution declared on May 15, 1776. “Fleets and armies are raised, and the aid of foreign troops engaged to assist these destructive purposes.”
At the time of the convention, Virginia’s royal governor was aboard an armed ship. He was seizing property on Virginia’s rivers and coast. The delegates’ choices were dire.
“In this state of extreme danger, we have no alternative left but an abject submission to the will of those overbearing tyrants, or a total separation from the Crown and government of Great Britain, uniting and exerting the strength of all America for defense, and forming alliances with foreign powers for commerce and aid in war.”
These Virginians unanimously voted on declaring independence for Virginia. “That the delegates appointed to represent this colony in General Congress be instructed to propose to that respectable body TO DECLARE THE UNITED COLONIES FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES.” They proposed that the Continental Congress issue a declaration of rights to “secure substantial and equal liberty to the people.”
These Virginians were so happy that they collected money for a celebration. The first independence parade, fireworks and a feast took place on May 16, 1776, the day after their decision for Virginia to leave England and less than two months before July 4. The soldiers in Williamsburg “... paraded in Waller’s Grove, before Brigadier General Lewis, attended by the gentlemen of the Committee of Safety, the members of the General Convention, the inhabitants of this city...” After reading the resolution aloud to the Virginia militia, they toasted America’s independent states, the Continental Congress, General Washington and victory to America. They discharged artillery and small arms, and shouted acclamations.
Instead of flying the Union Jack of Great Britain, they raised a new flag with thirteen red and white stripes with a small version of the British flag in the upper left-hand corner. How did their celebration end? With fireworks, of course!
“…[T]he evening concluded with illuminations (fireworks), and other demonstrations of joy, everyone seeming pleased that the domination of Great Britain was now at an end, so wickedly and tyrannically exercised for these twelve or thirteen years past, notwithstanding our repeated prayers and remonstrances of redress.”
Four Pennsylvania newspapers soon reported on these festivities, which may have inspired John Adams to make a prediction to Abigail a few weeks later that declaring independence “will be the most memorable epocha, 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.”[ii]
[i] “In Convention Present 112 Members (in Virginia) Wednesday, May 15, 1776,” The Pennsylvania Ledger, June 1, 1776, Genealogy Bank, accessed January 17, 2022, https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01111014165929282711643045718.
[ii] John Adams, Letter to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776, Founders Online, accessed January 13, 2022, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-02-02-0016.
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I believe there might be a move to replace fireworks with a drone show. I have seen one at Halifax NC. it was amazing BUT the best of both worlds is to combine a drone show with a huge blast of fireworks at the end. I think this would satisfy all.