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Common sense and the birth of the United States

This time of year our thoughts turn to the pomp and circumstance of the Fourth of July, along with the joy of American freedom. While my primary focus as a state legislator is our Commonwealth, I enjoy celebrating the freedom gained at the birth of our country.

“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.” – Thomas Paine, “Common Sense”

On January 9 of 1776, Thomas Paine published his revolutionary pamphlet titled “Common Sense.” In it, he emboldened his fellow (soon-to-be) Americans to take hold of their new identity rather than cling to their past British citizenship. Encouraging them all the more, he reminded them that nothing of worth comes without a fight. He wanted to encourage the soldiers to also stand firm, telling them to be unlike “the sunshine patriot,” who will abandon his call to service when things become difficult. He acknowledged that the fight for freedom would not be easy, but that it would be worthy—as earned freedom is of great value. This forty-seven-page pamphlet proved to be a catalyst for the British colonists stepping into life as independent Americans.

What came next is the reason we celebrate today, the Declaration of Independence. In early June 1776, Continental Congress delegate Richard Henry Lee brought forth a motion for the independence of the colonies from Great Britain. From there, five delegates were appointed to write a formal document containing the reasons for the colonies’ desire for separation from Great Britain—the Declaration of Independence, which was officially adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776. This document holds the famous words penned by Thomas Jefferson stating the rights of all humans: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Freedom was bigger than a formal separation from King George III’s rule, but, rather, a statement recognizing the rights that Americans desired and knew could only be achieved independently from Great Britain. And this declaration was only the beginning of the of a long journey fighting for American freedom.

After nearly six years of fighting, the last battle of the American Revolution was The Battle of Yorktown, which lasted from September 28 to October 19, 1781. However, it took nearly two years for the Treaty of Paris to be signed in 1783, formally granting Americans freedom from Great Britain. American negotiators, John Adams, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin, refused to sign a treaty until British monarch King George III agreed to grant the Americans their independence. From the beginning of our nation, our founding fathers recognized the need for sovereignty and rejected being subject to British rule after fighting to gain freedom. 

Because of the first brave soldiers and founding fathers of America, we stand proudly on the foundation they built nearly 250 years ago. Their commitment to future Americans was only the beginning of America becoming the greatest country in the world. The freedoms and opportunities granted to us in post-Revolution America live on today and are the cornerstone for patriotism. It is undeniable that, as Americans, we are fortunate enough to live in a country with such freedom—and I couldn’t be prouder to serve on the state level.

I hope you know that I always welcome your comments and concerns on any issues impacting our Commonwealth, even while we are not in session. As always, I can be reached at home anytime or through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at [email protected]. You can also keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at legislature.ky.gov. You can also follow me on Facebook @RepresentativeRebeccaRaymer or on Twitter @raymerforKY.