The Revolution Offers Lessons of Unity

In the 1770s, the idea of seeking independence from Britain was a minority position in the colonies as a whole and in Philadelphia in particular because of the pacifist Quaker influence. Only about 35% of people were in favor of independence, while about 25% of the population of the country was firmly loyalist and the other 40% really did not want to be involved. That split remained so stark after the war that tens of thousands left the new country. So, one of the first things the United States had to consider was, how do we deal with this division? That question was prominent in the drafting of the Constitution and shaped George Washington’s presidency. He worked hard to draw Americans together in support of the experiment in government they were embarking on.

The country has faced similar questions at each of its major anniversaries. At the centennial in 1876, the United States had just survived the Civil War and was facing a disputed presidential election. At the bicentennial in 1976, it was only a few years removed from the Vietnam War and the contentious issues of civil rights and women’s rights were center stage. And today, at the semiquincentennial, the country is deeply politically divided. But history shows us that Americans have figured out how to overcome differences before.