Brian's Editorial

Every week my brother, who is a dermatologist, writes an editorial on Thursday. He sends it out to about 900 single people in the Salt Lake area. With it, he includes activities that are happening for the next week. Don't be suprised if they show up here too, even older ones that were very entertaining. :)

July 2nd:
It has been a busy week. I spent last weekend in Chicago consulting on acne. There are few cities in America more beautiful than Chicago and few things more boring to talk about for 7 hours than acne. At least I got a few minutes to walk up to the Sears Tower and the river and I even skipped the opening reception to hit the Friday night showing of Mary Poppins. But now I am looking forward to getting work off tomorrow to celebrate the 4th of July. I didn’t have time to get you a new quiz for Independence Day but this one is a couple years old so it may seem new. Have a good weekend!
Brian

Question 1
Which of the following did not sign the Declaration of Independence?
A) George Washington
B) John Adams
C) Josiah Bartlett
D) Benjamin Franklin
E) Thomas Jefferson

If you said Josiah Bartlett because you just thought he was a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on TV…..you are wrong. Josiah Bartlett was actually the first signer from; you guessed it, New Hampshire, to sign the Declaration. Now you see where TV gets its material. Actually, George Washington was the one who did not. He was tied up fighting the British in New York. He read the Declaration to his troops in New York on July 9th. After which the troops promptly tore down the statue of King George III.

Question 2
When did the Delegates actually decide to declare America "free and independent" from Great Britain?
A) July 4, 1776
B) July 1, 1776
C) July 2, 1776
D) August 2, 1776

On July 1st Congress began the final debate on the issue of independence. A
vote was taken and two colonies abstained and two voted against independence. Then on July 2nd, after much politicking the night before, the resolution passed with a vote of 12 and one colony abstaining (see the next question). John Adams wrote "the second of July….will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival." However, Jefferson's Declaration of Independence needed some editing. After deleting some passages reproofing the English people and an indictment of George III for imposing slavery on America, July 4th was the day the delegates approved the final version of the Declaration of Independence. John Hancock, as president, was the only one to sign on that day. It is commonly thought that the rest of the signers did not add their signatures until the resolution had been "engrossed on parchment." Which was around August 2nd and even some of the signers signed as late as September. So the answer is C.

Question 3 – the final question.
Which colony abstained from the final vote, making the voting
unanimous, 12 to 0?
A) Pennsylvania
B) South Carolina
C) Delaware
D) New York

At the initial vote Delaware's delegation was divided one to one. On the evening of July1st Caesar Rodney rode 80 miles to break the deadlock and cause them to change their vote to yes. South Carolina voted no originally but a night of negotiating caused them to change their vote to yes. Pennsylvania had voted no but the two representatives most opposed were convinced that shortly Pennsylvania would be sending a new delegation to vote yes, so they stayed home on July 2 and Pennsylvania's vote swung
to yes. New York wanted to vote for independence but abstained because they did not have instructions from their colony. New York later did get instructions to vote yes but on July 2, they were the only ones to abstain.

BW