On the Very First Independence Day, Funerals Were Held Across the Colonies: Here's Who They Were For

Western Journal ^ | July 4, 2023 | Michael Schwarz

[DoodleBob]

The Second Continental Congress voted to approve the U.S. Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Some former colonists — now citizens — could not wait an entire year to celebrate, albeit in a somewhat morbid way.

In the summer of 1776, Americans held mock funerals for King George III of Great Britain, their former sovereign whom the Declaration of Independence labeled a tyrant.

The mock funerals represented a dramatic change in more ways than one.

First, as subjects in the British Empire, American colonists had grown accustomed to celebrating the king’s birthday each year.

George III turned 38 years old on June 4, 1776, though few Americans felt like celebrating their king in that summer of war.

Instead, they decided to bury their allegiance.

Secondly, mock funerals for King George III amounted to a dramatic reversal of American sentiment toward the man himself.

George III ascended to the British throne in 1760 at the age of 22. One year earlier, British and colonial forces had defeated the French and their Indian allies at the Battle of Quebec, the most important battle in the North American phase of the Seven Years’ War, which lasted from 1756-63.

American colonists thus responded to their new monarch with patriotic enthusiasm. A youthful king seemed a fitting symbol for a triumphant empire with a glorious future.

No one could have predicted that a revolution would change everything in a mere 16 years.

Finally — and most important of all — when Americans held mock funerals in the summer of 1776, they buried more than their allegiance to George III. They buried the monarchy itself.

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TOPICS: History; Society
KEYWORDS: funeral; independenceday; july4; theframers; therevolution

[DoodleBob]

[Libloather]

Mock funerals? Pelosi, Chuckles, the Turtle, Mad Maxine, Cankles, Horizontal, Brandon, Madmani, any socialist bartender, Omar. Am I missing anyone?

[goodnesswins]

The O?

[Leaning Right]

The rebel colonialists directed their anger at George III. He’s predominantly mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.

Now here’s the interesting thing. But that time the British monarch didn’t have a whole lot of actual power. George III was no Henry VIII. The Prime Minister and Parliament ultimately called the shots.

But I guess George remained the face of British tyranny. So he took the hits.

[DoodleBob]

Merriam-Webster’s social media today had this magnificent post:

Why is it ‘cancelled’ in the U.K. but ‘canceled’ in the U.S.?

Because we gave them that ‘L’ in 1776.

[MayflowerMadam]

Good one!

Like when my uncle said, in a SERMON after JFK won the election:

The state has changed its name from from “Massachusetts” to “Machusetts” because the a-s-s went to Washington. Of course, he meant donkey.

[Steven Scharf]

Some former colonists — now citizens — could not wait an entire year to celebrate, albeit in a somewhat morbid way.

We declared our independence in 1776. We did not win our independence until 1781. A hybrid govt was formed until a full Constitutional convertion in the summer of 1787.

The Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. Initially called to revise the Articles of Confederation, 55 delegates from 12 states discarded the original framework and drafted an entirely new Constitution, establishing a stronger federal government while balancing state power and individual liberties.

So there was no change of status until after approval of that constitution was ratified in 1789.

[Az Joe]

They were definitely Americans!

[stremba]

Newscum. Bootyjudge. Anyone else who might make a run for POTUS in 28.

[muir_redwoods]

Go easy now, JFK for all his faults was one of a dying breed; a democrat who was both a patriot and a veteran.