Page 50 - ASM Book 9/2020
P. 50
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Jefferson Finished Writing – Now It Was Up to Congress
TheCommitteeofFivepresentedJeffersons cleancopy oftheDeclarationofIndependencetotheSecond Continental Congress on June 28. The images above are Jefferson’s original four page “rough draught” that included the edits made by Adams, Franklin and Jefferson.
Independence Depended on One Man’s Vote
B
As debate continued on the Virginia Resolution that would declare the colonies independent, fellow Delaware delegate Thomas McKean sent a messenger to alert Rodney that his vote was necessary to decide Delaware’s approval for independence. Knowing the
vote of the colonies had to be unanimous, McKean
knew that Rodney’s vote would be needed to break
the deadlock between his vote and George Read’s
vote – Delaware’s third delegate.
The message was delivered, and Rodney began his ride to Philadelphia on July 1. It was a terrible night for a person with his bad health to be out. He made the 80 mile trip by horseback on a violent- stormy night over muddy roads, swollen streams and slippery cobblestone streets.
The tired and mud splattered Rodney arrived on July 2 just in time to cast the deciding vote that gave Delaware’s approval to the Virginia Resolution.
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eing a small colony, Delaware only had three delegates and Caesar Rodney was not present in Congress. He was at home with breathing problems caused by asthma and severe facial cancer. He always wore a green scarf to hide his cancer-scared face.
