July 5th: The Work of Maintaining Independence
From Celebration to Maintenance
July 4th was a day when Americans packed food and drinks into coolers, gathered at local parks, and watched fireworks. It was the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Declaration of Independence, a momentous occasion. Today is July 5th, and everyone is now preparing for another week. The decorations are going into boxes, and common chores are ongoing around the house. Although the celebration is over, there are lessons to be remembered from other July 5ths in history.
Three Distinct Dates, Three Separate Centuries, Three Important Lessons
1. Information Must Have Reach, But Be Careful About Speed (July 5, 1776: Dunlap Broadsides)
Taking their name from printer John Dunlap, the initial copies of the Declaration of Independence were printed on July 4th and distributed the next day. Approximately 200 copies were made for the public to learn about the event. As the National Archives states on its website:
“On the morning of July 5, copies were dispatched by members of Congress to various assemblies, conventions, and committees of safety as well as to the commanders of Continental troops. Also on July 5, a copy of the printed version of the approved Declaration was inserted into the ‘rough journal’ of the Continental Congress for July 4.”1
In 1776, it took time for the Declaration of Independence to reach everyone. In today’s world, information spreads across the globe in the time it takes to make a click on the mouse. People read the words (sometimes), make comments, and begin the discussion almost immediately. Time is rarely reserved for the full processing of emotions, which can lead to communication problems. Being aware of this trap is important for relaying information to the public.
2. Independence Requires the Rule of Law (July 5, 1813: Gouverneur Morris Oration)
Smithsonian Magazine published an article in September of 2025 about Gouverneur Morris, providing extensive context on the life of a founding father. One noteworthy section of the piece quotes political theorist Dennis C. Rasmussen:
“It’s fair to say that Morris wrote the Constitution, every bit as much as [Thomas] Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence,” Dennis C. Rasmussen, a political theorist at Syracuse University, tells Smithsonian magazine. “He singlehandedly and rather radically reorganized the draft Constitution, consolidating 23 sprawling articles down to a neat 7, and he changed or chose a great deal of the wording of his own initiative, oftentimes in consequential ways.”2
On July 5th, 1813, Morris spoke in front of the Washington Benevolent Society of New York. Reading through a copy of the oration, the reader gets a glimpse into the mind of one who lived through the American Revolution, through descriptions of the time and the focus on the ideals held by Continentals. When discussing the ongoing War of 1812, he made this observation about the British:
“In treating with England, there is little to apprehend; because British ministers dare not accede to a treaty which would infringe the rights of Englishmen; and even if they had that temerity, the law of England would not bend its stubborn neck to the yoke of such a treaty.”3
Morris then turns his words toward America:
“But different indeed may be the case when, on this or any similar subject, an American President, less honest and more ambitious than he who now directs our affairs, shall treat with an absolute prince… that when charges are regularly made against the subjects or citizens of one country, by the government of the other, trial shall be considered as unnecessary, and execution issue… Are you willing to surrender your liberty, and the liberty of your children, into the hands of a President or an Emperor?… But you are not so base. You will not tear to pieces the charter of your rights.”4
In order to maintain freedom, a set of guiding laws is necessary. Otherwise, the direction of America could be decided by feeling rather than guiding principles.
3. Be Prepared for the Unknown and Adapt (July 5, 1994: The Founding of Amazon)
First referred to as Cadabra, Amazon was established as a business in 1994.5 Starting as a small business, Amazon followed the Internet’s expansion by selling books online to later become the large technological organization it is today. The milestones accomplished by the business started by Jeff Bezos are numerous: initial public offering in 1997; third parties selling through the company starting in 2000; Amazon Prime in 2005; obtaining Whole Foods in 2017; and a continued foray into AI through funding and research.6
Over time, laws and regulations changed based on the expansion of online services and the way services are rendered. In order to accommodate the expansion of new types of business services, policymakers need to prepare for the unknown. The action of policymaking is not as simple as implementing a law and letting it be. There is a need for continuous review of the economic environment, how recent changes impact both businesses and customers, and continuous auditing of relevant agency rules to ensure a bottleneck does not exist in terms of assisting the sector in thriving.
Moving Forward with Caution and Excitement
The celebrations may be over, but there will be more to come. Now, it is important to take lessons, apply them to the present, and make wise choices to maintain a strong country.
Footnotes
- National Archives and Records Administration, “The Declaration of Independence: A History,” archives.gov. ↩
- Dennis C. Rasmussen, quoted in “Gouverneur Morris, the Founding Father Who Lost a Leg and Romanced Married and Single Women Alike,” Smithsonian Magazine, September 2025, smithsonianmag.com. ↩
- Gouverneur Morris, An Oration, Delivered July 5th, 1813, Before the Washington Benevolent Society of the City of New-York, in Commemoration of American Independence (New York, 1813), 21, hathitrust.org. ↩
- Ibid., 21–22. ↩
- “Amazon.com,” Encyclopædia Britannica, britannica.com. The company was founded in 1994; Bezos initially considered the name “Cadabra” before settling on Amazon. ↩
- Ibid. ↩
About the Author
Blake Dodd is a policy analyst specializing in workforce programs, regulatory interpretation, and state program evaluation. He has experience advising on funding decisions affecting colleges and employers, with a background in legislative research and budget support in Texas and Louisiana. His writing focuses on how governmental systems implement policy and the importance of alignment with the original intent of a law or regulation.
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