Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-06
Minnie May Duffield-"' Why
We Celebrate July a.
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
We celebrate the Fourth Of July. be-
| cause 1t was on that day the Declare
| ton of independence was signed.
When the colonists fought against
| the Indians with the French the colon
les learned how strong they We're.
The colonies became better acquaint
ed with each other because they had
stood side by side in battle and 1t
made them think also that French
would not have won had 1t not been
for them. 1t even made some Of them
think that they could get along with
England.
They taxed themselves heavily to pay
the expenses of their troops and did 1t
gladly. but when England began to tax
them they objected. They claimed that
as they were not represented in par
lament that they ought not to pay
taxes. Many Of the English people
thought the same. but the king would
not change the law. and in the year
1865 passed the stamp act, law which
required all law papers. marriage GER
tificates, agreements and other papers,
to be Of any use, to be written on pa
per with certain value stamped on 1t.
sixty dollars:
they said 1--WE will not buy any stamp
ed paper" England could not make the
Americans buy what they did not want.
so the law was repealed.
There was great rejoicing among the
people but it did not last very long
for the English put tax on tea. A tax
Of six cents on every pound OF tea that
would be brought to America.
When the colonists heard of this law
they declared that they would not
drink tea that came from England.
When vessels bringing tea entered
Boston harbor they were ordered BACK
but the English captains would not go,
so one night q great many men dress :
ed as Indians went on board the vessels
bearing tea, and threw 1t all overheard
into the water. This incident was called
the Boston Tea Party"
Massa chusetts was the most unruly
colony and England passed several laws
to punish her. One was that no ship
should 70 in or out Of Boston harbor
until Massachusetts would obey the
laws. But the worst law took away
some of the privileges given her in the
charter. This was blow to all the
colonies. for if the charter Of one col
ony could be changed, the charters OF
all could be changed.
Aonther law gave the English right
to quarter troops in America for the
colonists to feed and shelter them.
When the Americans heard of these
laws the country was stirred up and
meetings were held to protest against
them.
The people Of Boston were suffering
from hunger and other things were
needed that could not be secured.
Help came from all sides. Food and
money were sent from the other col
onies lust as we are now sending food
and money to France and England In
their trouble.
Washington held a meeting In Viz
ginia at which it was decided not to
use anything British until the rights
of the colonists would be restored. The
people wore homespun clothes, ana
drank tea made Of sassafvas or sage
leaves.
England had sent troops to Massa-
chusetts under command of General
Gage.
The colonies all sent men to Phila-
delphia to consider what should ne
be done. This body Of men was called
the continental Congress" and 1t
met in Carpenters hall in September
1774.
England sent more troops to Boston
and it needed only slight trouble to
bring on war.
The battles of Lexington and Con-
cord took place April 10. 1775. This was
the beginning of the revolutionary war.
The Americans heard that the Eng
lish were going to try and take
Charleston. So they decided to try and
prevent it. They left Cambridge on
June 10th in the evening and marched
to Charleston, where they began to
throw up fortifications Of earth. The
English tried to take them twice, ana
twice they were driven back, but the
third time they were successful, on
account Of the powder Of the Ameri-
cans giving out.
Several Englishmen of rank resigned
their places rather than fight against
America
Lord Cathem advocated peace, and
it was a good thing it failed, for it is
better for England, better for America,
and better for the whole world that
England does not govern the United
States. for now we can help England
better than if we were subject to ner
The debates in parliament proved to
the colonists that their trouble was not
a gainst the English people, but with the
king and ministry. We admire the Ger
man people, DuI we hoioi tho az
government.
Separation from Great Britain could
no longer be put off. In April 1776 con-
gress abolished the colonial system by
opening their ports to all the world eX-
cept Great Britain. On June 7th, r. II.
7 .ee offered resolution in congress
that these united colonies are. and Of
right should be. free and Independent
states" The resolution was adopted
and a declaration was written by
Thomas Jefferson was published to the
world on July 4, 1875.
At the time the Declaration OF In
was signed Switzerland
was the only republican form of gov
eminent, while now there are twenty
seven, Russia last and largest. most
Of which are independent because OF
the example set by the United States.
Minnie May Duffield. age 10,
Prairie Ave-. Ottumwa, la.