{"id":89,"date":"2026-08-31T17:04:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T17:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-1776\/?page_id=89"},"modified":"2026-09-03T12:49:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:49:38","slug":"john-dickinson","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/hist-1776\/course-syllabus\/john-dickinson\/","title":{"rendered":"John Dickinson"},"content":{"rendered":"

INTRODUCTION<\/h3>\n
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John Dickinson (Dickinson College Archives<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

John Dickinson (1732-1808) was one of the most important American revolutionaries, especially during the period of the colonial crisis in the 1760s.  He was born in Maryland on a tobacco plantation in Talbot County.  As a young man and law student, he spent time in London before launching his career as an attorney in Philadelphia in the 1750s.  Following the French and Indian War (1754-1763), Great Britain, saddled with debts despite its victory, tried to impose greater control and higher taxes on its American colonies.  The resulting controversies over the Stamp Act (1765)<\/a> and the Townshend Duties (1767)<\/a> helped vault Dickinson into  prominence as a resistance leader.  In 1768, he wrote a pamphlet, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania <\/em><\/a>that argued vigorously against the British policy of taxing the colonies to raise revenues without providing American colonists with direct representation in Parliament.  It created a sensation. The same year, Dickinson also wrote lyrics for \u201cThe Liberty Song,\u201d which became a popular political ballad after it was published in colonial newspapers in the summer of 1768, such as in the Boston Gazette<\/em> in July.  Dickinson composed the verses in response to the seizure of John Hancock\u2019s ship, Liberty, <\/em>and by the brave decision of the Massachusetts legislature to stand behind its \u201cCircular Letter,\u201d a protest against the Townshend Duties written by Samuel Adams.  Describing his inspiration, Dickinson wrote to fellow revolutionary James Otis, a Boston resident:  \u201cI enclose you a song for American freedom. I have long since renounced poetry, but as indifferent songs are very powerful on certain occasions, I venture to invoke the deserted muses.\u201d  Dickinson envisioned the lyrics set to the tune of the Royal Navy\u2019s anthem, \u201cHeart of Oak.\u201d<\/a>  One of the final stanzas, contained the origins of a famous phrase:  United We Stand, Divided We Fall<\/em>.  Dickinson later wavered over the wisdom of declaring independence, however, warning his fellow delegates at the Second Continental Congress in 1776 that their proposed Declaration would be little more than \u201ca skiff made of paper.\u201d Recently discovered letters<\/a> show how determined he was to avoid war.  Nonetheless, he joined the revolution anyway, helped draft the Articles of Confederation, and later attended the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia where he argued against slavery<\/a> despite having once been a major slaveholder himself.  \u201cWhat will be said of this new principle of founding a Right to govern Freemen on a power derived from Slaves,\u201d he asked.  It was \u2013and remains\u2013 a profound question for those who love liberty.<\/p>\n

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Excerpt from \u201cThe Liberty Song\u201d (Massachusetts Historical Society<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Liberty Song<\/h3>\n

Come join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
\nAnd rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty\u2019s call;
\nNo tyrannous acts, shall suppress your just claim,
\nOr stain with dishonor America\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

In freedom we\u2019re born, and in freedom we\u2019ll live;
\nOur purses are ready,
\nSteady, Friends, steady,<\/p>\n

Not as slaves, but as freemen our money we\u2019ll give.
\nOur worthy forefathers \u2013 let\u2019s give them a cheer \u2013
\nTo climates unknown did courageously steer;
\nThro\u2019 oceans to deserts, for freedom they came,
\nAnd, dying, bequeath\u2019d us their freedom and fame.<\/p>\n

Their generous bosoms all dangers despis\u2019d,
\nSo highly, so wisely, their birthrights they priz\u2019d;
\nWe\u2019ll keep what they gave, we will piously keep,
\nNor frustrate their toils on the land or the deep.<\/p>\n

The Tree, their own hands had to Liberty rear\u2019d,
\nThey lived to behold growing strong and rever\u2019d;
\nWith transport then cried, \u2013 \u201d Now our wishes we gain,
\nFor our children shall gather the fruits of our pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

How sweet are the labors that freemen endure,
\nThat they shall enjoy all the profit, secure,
\nNo more such sweet labors Americans know,
\nIf Britons shall reap what Americans sow,<\/p>\n

Swarms of placemen and pensioners\u2019 soon will appear,
\nLike locusts deforming the charms of the year:
\nSuns vainly will rise, showers vainly descend,
\nIf we are to drudge for what others shall spend.<\/p>\n

Then join hand in hand brave Americans all,
\nBy uniting we stand, by dividing we fall;
\nIn so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed,
\nFor Heaven approves of each generous deed.<\/p>\n

All ages shall speak with amaze and applause,
\nOf the courage we\u2019ll show in support of our laws;
\nTo die we can bear, \u2013 but to serve we disdain,
\nFor shame is to freemen more dreadful than pain.<\/p>\n

This bumper I crown for our sovereign\u2019s health,
\nAnd this for Britannia\u2019s glory and wealth;
\nThat wealth, and that glory immortal may be,
\nIf she is but just, and we are but free.
\nIn freedom we\u2019re born, &c.<\/p>\n