The Lee Resolution and the Road to Independence

This year, as we focus on the American Revolution, it is important to understand that the revolution was not as neat and tidy as it is often portrayed. It was not even a foregone conclusion that the colonists wanted independence. In fact, one of the strongest forces uniting the colonies was their pride in being British. Many colonists viewed Britain as the freest and most democratic nation in the world.

Although the colonists began military action against the British in April 1775 at Lexington and Concord, a year later, in June 1776, the Second Continental Congress had still not altered its primary goal. The delegates were fighting – not for independence but for what they believed were their rights as British subjects. While the subject of independence had been raised in Congress, it was not seriously considered until June 1776.

As I wrote back in January, the most important push for independence came from Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” published Jan. 10, 1776. The pamphlet inspired John Adams to join his cousin, Sam Adams, in pushing Congress further toward independence, but there was still considerable resistance. One problem was that proposals for independence came from the Massachusetts delegation. In many ways, the conflict was viewed as a regional issue because most of the protests and fighting had occurred in New England. As hard as John Adams fought to move the body in that direction, much of the South remained content with the status quo.

The one Southern colony that joined in protesting, though nowhere near as aggressively as Massachusetts, was Virginia. Virginians had experienced their own conflicts with the royal governor and were represented by fiery patriots such as Patrick Henry, who had already declared, “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!” The turning point came when the Virginia Legislature instructed Richard Henry Lee to propose independence. Lee did so on June 7, 1776, introducing the following resolution:

“Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown; and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; that it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances; and that a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.”

Lee came from one of Virginia’s most influential families, the same family that would later produce Robert E. Lee. The Lees had been in Virginia for more than a century and had long served as political, military, and civic leaders. Richard Henry Lee was educated in England before returning to Virginia to manage his family’s estate. He served in the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he became an outspoken critic of British policies and a defender of colonial rights. After the revolution, Lee served under the Articles of Confederation, including a term as President of Congress, and later represented Virginia in the first United States Senate.

Lee’s resolution transformed the debate from one of protest to one of independence. Until then, many colonists still hoped for reconciliation with Britain. His resolution forced Congress to decide whether the colonies should become a separate nation or remain under the British monarchy. Because many delegates believed the proposal was premature, the vote was postponed until July. Nevertheless, the fact that a Virginian had introduced the measure compelled the Southern colonies to take the issue far more seriously.

With the resolution now on the table, Congress created three committees to address its three major components. The first was the Committee to Draft a Model Treaty, composed primarily of Pennsylvanians John Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert Morris, along with Virginian Benjamin Harrison. The most influential member and principal author, however, was John Adams. The proposed treaty focused mainly on commerce and friendship rather than a formal military alliance with France or Spain, and it was formally adopted in September 1776.

The second committee was tasked with preparing and drafting a plan of confederation. This committee was much larger, consisting of one delegate from each colony. Despite opposing independence, John Dickinson of Pennsylvania chaired the committee and wrote most of the document. This committee eventually produced the Articles of Confederation, which served as the nation’s first framework of government and remained in effect until the adoption of our Constitution in 1789.

The third committee is by far the most famous, and I will discuss it in greater detail soon. It was the committee appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence.

Taken together, these three committees shaped the future of the United States. The independence committee explained why the colonies were separating from Britain. The confederation committee designed how the states would be united. The foreign alliance committee addressed who would support the new nation abroad.

James Finck is a professor of American history at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. He can be reached at james.finck@swoknews.com. Thanks to the Southwest Ledger and the Lawton Constitution for sharing his column.