The final vote was scheduled for July 2, and
the future of the United States of America
rested with Caesar Rodney.
As the Continental Congress sat in
Philadelphia, debating the fate of the Colonies,
a British fleet was approaching the New York
harbor, and the Americans were positioning
themselves in preparation for war.
A tired Rodney had just returned to his
home from military duty in southern Dela-
ware when the messenger arrived at his house,
carrying the letter from Thomas McKean.
Rodney broke the wax seal, read the letter,
and immediately saddled his horse for the
eighty-mile trip.
What was Caesar Rodney thinking
of while he covered the eighty miles to
Philadelphia? What would happen if the
Colonies declared independence from Great
Britain? He was certain it wouldmean
war. It could also mean imprison-
ment—or hanging—for treason.
Caesar had an ugly, can-
cerous growth on his nose and
the side of his face, which he
tried to hide with a scarf. If
the Colonies split from Great
Britain, he knew that he would
not be able to go to England for
surgery and that the cancer would
eventually take his life. Freedom was so
important to Rodney that he risked his life to
cast his vote for it.
Caesar was now in Philadelphia, and
it was late—too late to stop and take a
bath or change clothes. He rode up to thePennsylvania State House and rushed in.
All eyes were on him as he stepped into the
room, covered in mud from his ride and still
wearing his spurs. It was nearly 4:00 p.m. on
July 2, 1776.
“As I believe the voice of my constituents
and of all sensible and honest men is in favor
of independence, my own judgment concurs
with them. I vote for independence,” he said.
The Colonies voted to break with Great
Britain and establish a United States of
America. Thomas Jefferson was asked to
complete the draft of the Declaration, which
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R.
Livingston, and Roger Sherman helped him
write.
Caesar Rodney served the United States
for the rest of his life. He was part of the
Continental Congress until he was elected
President of the State of Delaware in- At the same time, he was a
major general in the Delaware
Militia and supported General
George Washington during
the Revolutionary War. Even
though the cancer was slowly
killing him, Rodney contin-
ued with his military and
political duties. The cancer
finally did take his life in June of
1784, while he was still serving as speaker
to the upper house of the Delaware Assembly.
The State of Delaware honored Caesar
Rodney in January of 1999 by coining his
image on the reverse side of the state quarter
of Delaware.
HE COULDN’T HAVE
DONE IT WITHOUT HIS
SWIFT, BRAVE HORSES!WHAT A(^28) HERO!