Meeting Recap
Jeff Neale - Middleton Place Foundation
10/16/2024
Today was all about the Declaration of Independence at our weekly meeting!
Jeff Neale is the Curator of Research and Collections for the Middleton Place Foundation. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the research and preservation of historical artifacts and documents related to Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark. He also has a deep level of knowledge and enthusiasm for our founding documents like the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence is a foundational document in United States history that formally announced and explained the 13 American colonies' decision to separate from Great Britain and declare themselves independent sovereign states.
The Declaration of Independence was not written in one day! This document was created in June-July 1776 by Thomas Jefferson and the Committee of Five. It was then unanimously adopted on July 4, 1776 by the 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress after multiple earlier votes. The Declaration was then signed by representatives from all 13 American colonies.
The Declaration served three main purposes:
1. It explained to the world why the colonies were declaring independence from British rule.
2. It asserted certain natural and legal rights, including the right to revolution.
3. It listed 27 grievances against King George III to justify separation.
The Declaration articulates several fundamental American ideals, most famously in this passage: "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."
Jeff offered an insightful view into the process of creating this document, the motivations of the key players, and the behind-the-scenes process with our founding fathers. Thank you, Jeff, for an extremely memorable and informative presentation!