In our continuing series in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Historical Society of the New York Courts is highlighting New York’s role in the creation of our nation and its legacy through its annual calendar. In July, we are spotlighting Declaration of Independence.
July: Declaration of Independence
Adopted on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was a list of grievances and justifications for independence from Great Britain addressed to King George III and to the rest of the world. On July 9th, George Washington read the Declaration to Continental Army troops assembled in New York City. Upon hearing the Declaration, colonists rushed to pull down a large statue of King George III in Bowling Green, which was subsequently melted down for ammunition. Depictions of this event would create an iconic image of the American Revolution.
Image Captions
Pulling Down the Statue of George III at Bowling Green, July 9, 1776 by William Walcutt, 1857. Image in public domain in the United States, image (reversed) courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Depiction of colonists pulling down the statue of King George III in New York City on July 9, 1776 by André Basset, created in Paris, France in [177-]. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ppmsca-17521.