"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."
General Kim glanced up from the copy of the Declaration of Independence he was reading and looked at the crowd of people in front of him. Thousands from across the state, and from other colonies, gathered in streets in front of the Pennsylvania State House to hear the Declaration that would change American history forever. It had been three weeks since the ratification of the Declaration of Independence, three weeks since the United States was born. General Kim was given the honor of being the first to read the Declaration to the public. While the public suspected that something major was imminent, they were still waiting patiently as the general read the document.
The Continental Army was lined up beside him and was flying the new flag of the United States, which General Kim found in his room just the morning prior. The flag consisted of fifteen stripes and fifteen stars, representing the first official fifteen states of the United States of America. Seeing the flag fly in the air felt nostalgic, yet strange at the same time. It was a flag that was very similar to the one he constantly saw in the future, but different in a number of ways.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL men are created EQUAL," General Kim emphasized those words heavily before he continued, "That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
He continued to read the text of the Declaration and finally came upon the last paragraph, one of the most important parts that would seal America's fate in this new world, "We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies and Territories, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies and Territories are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. The Representatives of the United States of America stand concertedly behind this Declaration and proclaim the birth of a new nation, founded on the principles of liberty, into this Earth. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
As he finished the paragraph, the general placed the document by his side and raised his voice, "May the people of our new nation, bless this United States of America."
Shots were fired into the air to signal the beginning of independence, with the flag being proudly waved by none other than Private Cox in his small marine uniform. General Kim marched his troops down the streets of Philadephia as a stunned and shocked crowd watched on. Unlike the documentaries and movies that portrayed the crowds celebrating the news of independence, the reality was much different. The people were still reeling from the ramifications of the Declaration and the uncertainty that followed.
However, he had no time to wait for the people to accept the Declaration. General Kim had received new orders from Congress several days ago.
South Carolina was in a civil war, with the eastern coastal lands held by Loyalists sided with the British while the western portions of the state were controlled by the South Carolinians that remained loyal to Congress. The Loyalists in the state, many of them being slaveowners, surrendered Charleston without a fight and the Patriots were forced to evacuate to the west. There were two “official” state governments: the Patriot government in Stateburg and the Loyalist government in Charleston.
The orders from Congress were clear: March down south with General Washington and prevent South Carolina from totally falling into the hands of the Loyalists and the British. At the same time, the Continental Army was to deliver a decisive blow against the British and force them to bow out of the war.
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