Former Sea Cliff Mayor Ed Lieberman held a presentation May 14 in honor of the United States’ semi quincentennial anniversary. With more than 25 people in attendance at the Village Library, Lieberman spoke about the nation’s history. He highlighted many significant people and events and included personal and historical anecdotes. Local musician Frank Ferrara accompanied Lieberman, performing throughout the presentation.
Here are three facts about the United States’ history.
1. John Locke inspired Founders
John Locke, an English philosopher and physician of the 17th century, authored “Two Treatises of Government” in which he wrote about natural rights and government’s role in defending them.
Lieberman said Locke, who had lived through the execution of King Charles I and the English Civil War, was the most influential philosopher of the Enlightenment.
“He believed government legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed,” Lieberman explained, “to protect our natural rights, those being life liberty and property.”
The Founding Fathers later adopted “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as rights delineated in the American Declaration of Independence.
2. Aaron Burr was tried for treason
After losing the presidential election of 1800 and killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804, Aaron Burr traveled to Marietta, Ohio in 1806. The former vice president attempted to create an empire out of the Western states and Louisiana which would have meant detaching them from the Union. This event would later be known as the Burr conspiracy.
“That’s his staging ground,” Lieberman said, “to commit this conspiracy.”
Burr was captured in early 1807 and tried for treason but was acquitted by the Supreme Court. There was not enough evidence for a conviction, though Lieberman said that Chief Justice John Marshall’s hatred for Jefferson played more of a role in the decision than any evidence of Burr’s innocence.
3. Adams predicted holiday, not perfectly
The Second Continental Congress voted for independence for the colonies on July 2, 1776. Adams recounted the events of that day to his wife, Abigail, in a letter on July 3, 1776 in which he predicted the date of the annual independence celebration.
Adams also wrote in the letter that he expected celebrations to include parades, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations.
“He got everything right,” Lieberman said, “except the date.”
July 4 was later chosen to commemorate the Second Continental Congress’ unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence. A celebration broke out in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777 which marked the first anniversary.
