Fun Facts #539-40
Fun Fact #539
Secrets abound
The American Declaration of Independence was finally sent off on its way. However, this raises the question, how did they keep the growing rebellion secret from one of the largest and most powerful empires of the day? Well… in short they didn’t.
Officially the British Government wouldn't respond until September 3rd, unofficially though, the first draft of the Declaration was hit the streets of London August 10th in full in The Scots Magazine under the title “The Unalienable right of Talking Nonsense” with satirical editorial asides –before the Final version had even left The United States. This was the version that King George III read first and it set the tone for how he would respond, with parliament moving to declare war that same day.
The first official response would be from Commander-in-Chief of the North American forces, Lord Howe who called into question the Authority of The Continental Congress. They also tried to avert war at a peace meeting on September 11th, with the promise of pardons for all congressional members. Then, The King received The Final version of the Declaration, –alongside the news that New Yorkers had already melted down his statue for Musket balls with the Sons of Liberty naming these rounds “The Tyrant’s Balls”.
Suffice it to say, he was not pleased. On October 31st The King addressed parliament, it was time they rallied against “the Arbitrary Tyranny of Chiefs (In reference to the Founding Fathers)”. The Confederacy of United American Colonies (States) and The British Empire were now at war.
America colonists pull down a gilded lead equestrian statue of George III at Bowling Green, New York City, 9 July 1776 : Image obtained from Jackmillercenter. org/recieving-the-declaration
Fun Fact #540
Meanwhile in the rest of Europe,
When the The Monarchies of Mainland Europe heard of the Declaration of Independence they were aghast. Most feared what damage a successful revolution could do for their Rule. Thus even in France where it was well received, Translated versions were banned, and anyone found making them would be arrested. So naturally, The Netherlands –who like to cause a good bit of trouble every now and again– decided to translate the Declaration for every major language in Europe and distribute them. Spain in particular was honked off by this but since most countries owed The Netherlands for bailing them out of Debt after their losses to The British, the reaction was limited to official insults sent to the Orange Monarchy in Amsterdam. These insults are now on public display with the Crown Jewels of The Netherlands and ranked third by their parliament as one of the nation’s greatest pranks.
In Russia it was wasn't publicly released for 8 decades but since it was an open secret the poet Aleksandr Nikolaievich Radishchev who wrote an ode called “Vol’nost” (Liberty) and was exiled to serbia for it. This poem then inspired soldiers in 1825 to try and overthrow the Monarchy –for which they were hanged for treason. It wouldn't be until the abolition of Serfdom under Zar Nicholas the first that the declaration of Independence finally was published in Russia in 1855 – 6 years before the Civil war.
The only recorded response from any African nation was that of Morocco under Sultan Mohommad III who officially recognized The United States in hopes of opening up trade. When the US failed to acknowledge this due to a preoccupation with the war, The sultan then had his ships start capturing American merchants until a response was given resulting in The Barbary Wars soon after the conclusion of The American Revolution and was the first war The war The US fought primarily on another continent (we did have one ship raid london during the revolution).
Of all people, the last group to receive a copy of the Declaration were The Portuguese, who only learned after a Brazilian medical student “Vendek" José Joaquim Maia e Barbalho brought it to their attention –China had even received a copy before them. The Portuguese were angered by this oversight as (the Italian) Christopher Columbous had been one of their greatest citizens and sailors (even though he was sponsored by Spain) and the reason the American continents had even been (officially) discovered in the first place! Thus Spain’s official first act of the war was to supply arms to The British, which only stopped after they allied with The Colonies near the end of the war.
