The Declaration of Independence began as a “broadside” – the 1700s version of an open letter – to the British king, listing out American grievances and the causes that led them to break away. By 1776, with the U.S. already several months at war with the British, it became clear to American political leaders there could be no hope of reconciliation. The document was turned into a public declaration, amended and adopted on July 4. That same day the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence sent the text to a printing shop run John Dunlap. George Washington received one of the 40 or so copies of the “Dunlap Broadside,” and he knew just how to use it.

On this day, July 9, in 1776, with the British massing around New York, George Washington ordered the Declaration read to troops assembled there. The president of Congress gave Washington the copy with the instructions to read ”at the Head of the Army in the way you shall think it most proper.”

Later that night, fired-up residents and troops in New York rushed to Broadway on the Bowling Green, where a bronze statue of King George III stood. Numerous ropes were slung across the statue to take it down. It was hauled to Connecticut to be melted down to make bullets for the defending troops.