All language subtitles for John Adams.S01E02.720p.HDTV.x264

I would read into the record,
for the benefit of those delegates

who are unable to remain
to close of session,

the declarations and resolves
of this first congress.

Resolved...

That to the recent grievous acts
imposed by parliament on Massachusetts,

we cannot submit.

But in hopes that our fellow subjects
in Great Britain

will restore to us happiness
and prosperity,

rather than support
the Massachusetts militia,

we have agreed to pursue
the following peaceable measures...

To publish a statement of the aforesaid
to the inhabitants of British America.

Who need no reminders.

Two, to enter into a non-importation,
non-consumption

and non-exportation agreement
of british goods.

- Which no one will honor.
- And three,

to prepare a loyal
address to his majesty.

Which his majesty will not read.

This congress stands adjourned.

The business of this congress
being concluded, all delegates...

"The business of this congress."

The business of this congress
has been to achieve nothing.

... the year of our Lord, 1775.

You carry good news back home,
Mr. Paine.

Massachusetts has made its cause plain
to its sister colonies,

and now it will be made plain
to Parliament.

I beg to differ, Mr. Dickinson.

Nothing has been made plain.

All this congress has shown

is that every man in it
thinks that he is a great man...

Orator, a critic, a statesman.

And therefore every man
must show his oratory, his criticism,

his political ability.

If it were moved and seconded
that two and three make five,

we should spend two whole days
debating the matter

and only then pass a resolution
in the affirmative.

Well, in that event, Mr. Adams,

our adjournment
comes not a moment too soon.

A toast, gentlemen and ladies.

May Boston's troubles soon be at an end

and her people's natural rights
as englishmen

be fully restored.

May the sword of the parent
never be stained

with the blood of her children.

God save the King.

God save the king.

Part II: INDEPENDENCE

Transcript: swsub.com.
Synchro: michvanilly.

There we are.

Go on, get a feel for it.

Put your hands in there.
Deeper.

Deeper. There.
There, turn it, yeah?

Now, the best recipe
is equal parts salt marsh,

upland soil and dung.

Manure is an art,

and I consider myself
an accomplished artist.

Smell that.

I want to be a farmer too, papa.

Do you now?

Farming is noble employment, Johnny.
The noblest there is.

And this farm
will always be in our family.

But it's to be school
and the law for you.

As it was for me.

Mr. Adams! Mr. Adams!

The british!
The british are marching on concord!

The british are marching on concord!

- To arms!
- Go inside!

Charles!

Inside, Charles!
Get inside!

The first sign of trouble,
you fly to the woods!

Stay with me!

Come on, faster!

Doctor Warren!
What is god's name has happened?

Gage sent a regiment to seize our powder
and arms at concord.

Hundreds of our militia turned out.
The british got nothing.

- Where are they now? Are they close by?
- We are chasing the bastards

back to Boston,
and we'll keep them there!

Move!
Come on, men.

There can be no mistaking
britain's intentions now.

If you had seen them, Abigail.

An army of plain country boys...

With no experience
of professional soldiering.

But their faces shing
like the sun through a church window.

We must support them...

With guns and leadership

and faith in what they do.

Say that, John.

Say that

to the congress.

If I have to stand and rail

until my voice breaks

and my legs collapse beneath me...

This time congress will act.

Men...

Need to think that they
have made their own decisions...

Not had them forced upon them.

I don't have the time to coddle
like a young girl courting a beau.

To sit in Philadelphia

listening to men talking
to hear themselves talk,

resolving nothing...

To subject myself to that yet again,
I cannot.

I cannot.

Where are these gentlemen
from Massachusetts?

What have you done with
these gentlemen from Massachusetts?

Have you stolen
these gentlemen from Massachusetts?

There they are!
All the way from Boston.

Are they not a shame on their country?

Are they not a disgrace
to all civilized beings?

Has not even the reverend
Ebenezer Slither declared them so?

They have violated

the fundamental rule of warfare,

which is always to let the british win!

Did they not pursue

the british army
with ungentlemanly haste

after their cowardly victory at Concord?

Must you be so extreme, Dr. Franklin?

I'm an extreme moderate, Mr. Rutledge.

I believe anybody not
in favor of moderation

and compromise out to be castrated.

And that all this
should be sent down to the...

To the Parliament,
for they seem to need...

How shall I put it?
Stones.

There.

I think we scared him off.

I am very glad
to have you gentlemen with us.

Very glad indeed.

I beg the good gentlemen here.

I beseech you...

Entreat.
He left out entreat.

I entreat you to remember...

... that we remain the King'subject,

whatever the recent
unpleasantness in Massachusetts.

One rash action
does not merit a rash response!

Might must be met with reason, not arms!

I remind Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Duane

that blood has been shed.

Massachusetts' blood.

While we debate, our militia is left
without munitions,

without arms, without even
the slightest encouragement.

Mr. Dickinson of Pennsylvania.

One colony cannot be allowed to take

its sister colonies headlong
into the maelstrom of war.

Parliament will be eager to call
a halt to hostilities, as are we.

They will seek conciliation.
We must offer them an olive branch.

I move this assembly

consider a humble and dutiful
petion be dispatched to his Majesty,

one that includes a plain statement

that the colony
desires immediate negotiation

and accommodation of
these unhappy disputes,

and that we are willing
to enter into measures

- to achieve that reconciliation.
- Second!

Mr. Dickinson?

The time for negotiation is past.

The actions of the british army

at Lexington and Concord
speak plainly enough.

If we wish to regain
our natural-born rights as englishmen...

Then we must fight for them.

I have looked for our rights
in the laws of nature

and can find them only
in the laws of political society.

I have looked for our rights

in the constitution
of the english government

and found them there!

Our rights have been violated,
Mr. Adams, that is beyond dispute.

We must provide a plan to convince
Parliament to restore those rights!

Do we wish to become
aliens to the mother country?

No, gentlemen,

we must come to terms
with the mother country.

No doubt the same ship which
carries forth our list of grievances

will bring back their redress.

Mr. Dickinson...

My wife and young children
live on the main road to Boston,

fewer than five miles from
the full might of the british Empire.

Should they sit and wait for gage and
his savages to rob them of their home,

their possessions, their very lives?

No, sir!
Powder and artillery

are the surest and most infallible
conciliatory measures we can adopt!

If you explode the possibility of peace,
Mr. Adams,

and I tell you now,
you will have blood on your hands!

And I tell you, Mr. Dickinson,

that to hold out
an olive branch to britain

is a measure of gross imbecility.

If you New England men continue to
oppose our measures of reconciliation,

you will leave us no choice
but to break off from you entirely

and carry on
the opposition in our own way.

I sit in judgment of no man's religion,
Mr. Dickinson...

But your quaker sensibilities
do us a gross disservice, sir.

It is one thing to turn the other cheek,

but to lie down in
the ground like a snake

and crawl toward the seat of power...

in abject surrender, well,
that is quite another thing, sir.

- And I have no stomach for it, sir!
- Mr. Adams!

No stomach at all!

We will exhaust all peaceful approaches,
Mr. Adams.

And we will do it with or without

the approbation of you
and your Boston insurrectionists!

Hear, hear!

Mr. Dickinson's motion to send
an olive branch petion to his majesty

has been made and seconded.

We shall proceed to a vote.

- New Hampshire?
- New Hampshire votes no.

- Massachusetts?
- Massachusetts votes no.

- Rhode Island?
- Rhode Island votes no.

- New York?
- New York votes yes!

Hear, hear.

- Connecticut?
- Connecticut votes no.

New Jersey?

New Jersey votes yes.

Hear, hear.

Delaware?

Delaware votes yes.

Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania votes yes.

Virginia?

Virginia votes yes.

- Maryland?
- Maryland votes yes.

South Carolina?

South Carolina votes yes.

- Georgia?
- Georgia votes yes.

The storm did not quite
behave as it was meant to behave.

Unlike the british army,
it did not travel in a straight line.

As my brother told me at the time...

- Mr. Adams.
- Doctor.

Dr. Rush has been telling me
that he has bled most of Philadelphia.

He quite swears by the regenerative
powers of desanguination.

Thus far, Philadelphia has survived...

Can I have
a private word with you, doctor?

- Certainly, Mr. Adams.
- Gentlemen, if you...

If you'll excuse me.

Mr Rodney

You seem a little distracted, Mr. Adams.

I had thought that you were with us.

As I am, as I am.

But not enough to come out and say so.

Politics is the art of the possible.

What did you get by opposing the motion?

It was carried with our without you.
All you did was make enemies

aand make yourself feel better,
of course.

Do you not believe
in saying what you think?

No, I'm very much against it.

Thinking aloud is a habit responsible
for much of mankind's misery.

St. Thomas � Becket

might have lived to
a ripe old age if he...

You insulted Mr. Dickinson.

You insulted him in public.

Would you have me insult him in private?

It's perfectly acceptable
to insult someone in private.

Sometimes they might even
thank you for it afterwards.

But when you do it in public,
they tend to think you are serious.

I feel myself hated in this town.

Go gently.

I beg you.

You are a guest in Philadelphia.

Fish and guests...

Stink after three days.

You would do well

to seek out the gentlemen of Virginia.

Their vote went against me as well.

Virginia must be won, Mr. Adams.

Their wealth, prestige, their size... No
other colony carries that much weight.

And I think you'll find,
despite their recent vote,

that they are of your opinion.

And of your opinion, sir.

My opinion is that I have no opinion.

But I'll gladly come with you,

to find out what my opinion might be.

Diplomacy is seduction in another guise,
Mr. Adams.

One improves with practice.

Mr. Harrison,
Mr. Lee.

Gentlemen, good morning to you.

Mr. Lee?

You are said to be
the cicero of Virginia.

Like you, Mr. Adams, we are
arming ourselves for our own defense.

Beyond that, the Virginia convention
has given us no instructions.

Were it up to myself
and colonel Washington...

Oh, yes indeed.
Colonel Washington.

- Good morning to you, colonel.
- Mr. Adams.

Colonel,

you are in mourning?

for Massachusetts, Mr. Adams.

An attack made on one of
our sister colonies

is an attack made on all of us.

If only all of the congress
were of your sentiment, sir.

I am prepared to raise 1,000 men,

subsist them at my own expense

and march them myself
to the relief of Boston.

We may yet have need
of your generosity.

Not generosity, Mr. Adams, duty.

A natural leader.

He's always the tallest man
in the room.

He's bound to end up leading something.

When will we escape
this dreadful city, doctor?

Philadelphia is not to your liking, sir?

I'd rather be in my own country.
Would not you?

I would, Mr. Jefferson, yes.

Well, excuse me.

ma!
ma!

Are those our guns, mama?

I pray they are.

- Would you like some water, sir?
- Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

We saw flames above the harbor.

Gage's ships
laid into us with cannon fire.

They sent their butchers through
the smoke up Bunker Hill.

Dear god.

We held them back.

Thank you.

Do I know that face?

I knew that face.

Children, inside.

General Warren
is fallen at Bunker Hill...

Shot through the head...

Bayoneted and stripped of his clothes.

I knew him, gentlemen.

He was my physician.

The full measure of british atrocity
is too terrible to relate.

"400 patriots dead."

Not professional soldiers,

ordinary citizens of Massachusetts

who willingly gave their lives
to defend what was rightfully theirs...

Their liberty.

But they took with them

more than 1,000 british soldiers
and 100 of their officers.

If this congress does not support
the Massachusetts militia,

it could very well dissolve, gentlemen!

Should that happen...

Should that happen...

We will be left defenseless, gentlemen.

Yes. absolutely.

I move that the congress adopt
the Massachusetts militia immediately!

Mr. Adams.

Second!

You are asking us to form an army,

Mr. Adams...

A force acting not for a single colony,
but all 13!

Now there's not a man here present

who does not mourn the loss
of the brave men of Massachusetts.

But it is at such times

that caution must prevail.

It may be weeks before
our last petion reaches the King,

many weeks more before
we may hope for a reply.

While we await answer,

we must avoid any escalation
of the hostilities between us.

The situation is perilous!

What is required now

is one able man to build

and to lead this new continental army.

And who do you propose

of the Massachusetts
delegates should lead this force?

Gentlemen, we move too quickly.

We have not yet resolved
the question of any continental army,

much less who is to lead it.

I have but one gentleman in mind,

known to all of us.

Mr. President,
I propose as commander in chief,

our most honorable
and esteemed delegate...

The good gentleman from Virginia,
Colonel George Washington.

Second!

I commend your selection, sir.

There is no more able soldier
in all America.

Colonel Washington
would command approbation

in all americans,

were he to accept the position
that it is now our great honor

to offer him.

If the congress

sees fit to honor me with the command,

it will be my humble duty to serve.

By your modesty,
you show the wisdom of our choice.

There are two motions on the floor.

Should congress adopt
the Massachusetts militia

and should
Colonel Washington be appointed

as commander in chief
of this continental army?

I think we should move towards a vote.

Congratulations, General Washington.

I am truly sensible of the high honor

the congress has done me.

But I tell you now,
I do not think myself

equal to the command
I am honored with.

Your men, your continental army,

awaits you at Cambridge, sir.

And I shall see you there on my return.

- Will General howe attack again?
- Impossible to say.

What is that but an army of occupation?

And the Congress
goes on its knees to the King.

Has the King deigned to reply?

I understand people like Mr. Dickinson
and his friends all too well, John.

Send a woman to the Congress.
She might knock some sense into them.

It is not a question of men and women.
It is a matter politics.

Politics.

Politics?

And do women not live politics,
John Adams?

When I go to the cupboard
and I find no coffee, no sugar,

no pins, no meat,
am I not living politics?

This war touches people

that your congress treats
with the same contempt

King George
deserves for the people of Boston.

I mean women, yes,
and slaves too, for that matter.

Though I am sure you wish
I would not mention that subject,

as it might upset your southern friends.

- You're harsh, madam.
- I am cold.

And frightened.

I am afraid this war
will never end or begin.

I am frightened too, Abigail.

And however much I talk and talk,

I will never carry the congress.

It seems
that I must come down to Philadelphia

and box the ears of Mr. Dickinson
and his cronies.

I must pray for guidance
in all our endeavors,

wherever they may lead us.

And where will they lead us, John?

I sometimes think we may be heading

to a complete
and irrevocable independence.

The enemy are quite entrenched.

To take boston
may mean its utter destruction.

I could call on only 5 000 troops
who are fit to fight.

I thought you had at least
20 000 men under your command?

A great many have gone home
since their enlistments expired,

New England men a good lot of them.

I cannot conceal our condition
from the british indefinitely.

We have been
decimated by the bloody pox.

It is sheer providence
they haven't discovered our predicament.

Upon my return to Philadelphia,

I will make this situation known

and the congress
will find whatever you require, sir.

Nothing has yet
come from all their promises

of powder,
muskets supplies, Mr. Adams.

- Mr. Adams.
- I will persuade them, sir.

And I will also argue to the congress

that an alliance with
France and Spain is essential.

But above all,

I intend to present them
with a Declaration of Independency.

You've already spoken of this?

Oh no no one speaks of it.

At least not publicly.

But it is the only sure
guarantee of our liberty.

Independence

will mean war

from one end of the colonies
to the other.

I have no illusions about that.

But first, let us free Boston.

The rest will follow.

So many have been carried away
by the bloody pox.

We cannot risk infection in this house.

How you will manage this winter
with the blockade, I don't know.

We will manage.

Somehow we will manage.

I should go before the weather worsens.

I would gladly take a walk
in our garden with you

- when the spring comes.
- No more, John!

No more.

I hate the congress!

General Washington
still awaits our reply

to the problem of re-enlistments.

- The king's seal.
- Now he respectfully suggests

that a salary be granted our soldiers
commensurate with their sacrifice.

But he has no money on hand to pay them.

Tents, soap, shoes and blankets
are also greatly wanting.

The army recently took shipment
of 50 crates of rifles,

all without the flints
required to shoot them.

A proclamation

by King George III.

"many of our subjects,

misled by a desperate conspiracy

of dangerous

and ill-designing men,

have forgotten the allegiance

which they owe to the power
that has protected and supported them,

and have declared rebellion

and traitorously levied war against us.

It is the better part of wisdom
to put a speedy end

to such disorders.

We have thought fit
to issue our royal proclamation

that all our royal officers,
both civil and military,

are obliged to suppress such rebellion

and bring the traitors to justice.

When the unhappy and deluded multitude

against whom this force
shall be directed

shall become sensible of their error,

I shall be ready to receive the misled
with tenderness and mercy.

for those who
persist in their treason...

For those who persist in their treason,

the punishment
shall be death by hanging.

given in parliament this 26th day
of october in the year..."

1775."

God save the King.

God damn the King!

God bless the King.

Who else could have brought
such a spirit of unity to this congress?

We will now all hang together.

Or, most assuredly,
we will all hang separately.

The question is no longer whether there
shall be independence, but when.

If we force a decision too soon,
we may reap disaster.

Independence without unanimity
means nothing.

- I'm in complete agreement, doctor.
- I will leave immediately.

The Virginia Convention
must free us to act.

All 13 clocks must strike
at the same second.

Charles, Charles!

Charles, come back!

Children, step away from the door.

Charles!

Charles, go inside!

Go inside!

Go!

Mr. Knox.

Mr. Knox!

- Mr. Knox!
- Mrs. Adams?

You sold books to my husband,
now look at you.

- What are you doing?
- British guns

captured at Fort Ticonderoga.

General Washington
may have some use for them.

- How on earth did you manage?
- Rowed them across lake George

and hauled them over the berkshires.

We call that one Liberty.

And that big one there
stuck in the mire,

we call it Independence!

When *how* we saw the guns
from Ticonderoga ringing the city

he shouted, "good god,

these fellows have done
more work in one day

than I made my army do in three months."

General Washington's surprise
sent them scurrying like rats.

Mr. Lee, now is the time.

And with your good news I can depend
upon Virginia to lead the way.

The honor is mine, sir.

We are about to take a leap
in the dark, Mr. Jefferson.

I would gladly lend my hand

to sink the whole island
of Great Britain in the ocean.

Now, I have not heard you say

three words together
in the last congress.

with such passion, I regret

that you haven't made your mind
more plainly known.

I have no gift for oratory.

President recognizes
Mr. Lee of Virginia.

- Order, gentlemen!
- Resolved...

That these united colonies

are and of a right ought to be

free and independent states;

They are absolved of all allegiance
to the british crown;

and that all political connection

between them
and the country of Great Britain

is and ought to be totally dissolved.

No!

Second!

Second from Mr. Adams.

Am I to understand that Virginia

has freed their delegates
to propose this measure?

They have, sir. the liberation of Boston
has quite convinced them.

The british may have
abandoned Boston, Mr. Lee,

but that is not an end to the business!

General Howe is said
to be awaiting reinforcements!

Thousands of godless hessian
mercenaries among them.

First they will attack New York,
then this very city!

Two warships have been sighted
sailing up the Delaware, gentlemen.

What possible object can they have
if not to take this congress

and every man in it by force?

Our river defenses...

Our river defenses will hold them, sir!

How shall we fight them?

With what navy
shall we turn them back?

England is poised
to strike a fatal blow!

I must ask again,

why such haste?

Why should
we pull down the old house

- before we are prepared to...
- Because...

Enough!

Because, Mr. Duane,

the middle way that some in this chamber
have been seeking is no way at all.

Gentlemen, please hear me out,
gentlemen!

If we finally fail
in this great and glorious contest,

it will be by bewildering ourselves
in groping for the middle way!

Gentlemen, Dr. Franklin knows
England better than any man here.

Can we not yet hope
to see a clearer sky?

Well, if my long residence in London

as this colony's agent to the Court
has taught me anything, Mr. Dickinson,

it has taught me this:

that given the choice between doing

what is right
and doing what is not right,

his majesty's government
will take the later course every time.

Well said, well said.

Dr. Franklin has the floor.

The King refuses

our petitions.

He has branded us rebels.

The question is not whether by a...
by a declaration of independence

that we should make ourselves
something we are not,

but whether we should declare as fact

something which already exists.

- No!
- Only the voice...

Only the voice of the people
can proclaim independence.

No no, Mr. Dickinson!

The people wait for us to lead the way.

and we must lose no time
in leading them, sir. No time at all.

And just whom do you think
will join us in this folly?

- France, for one!
- France!

Gentlemen!

England is our common enemy, sir.

Mr. Adams would make us
french subjects!

Partners, Mr. Duane, not subjects.

General Washington's army
needs arms and men!

King Louis cannot
be expected to acknowledge us

until we have acknowledged ourselves

and taken our rightful place
as a sovereign power.

Mr. Adams...

- Mr. Franklin has the floor.
- Mr. Adams is right.

Let us send an envoy

to King Louis while our affairs
wear a hopeful aspect.

What if no alliance comes?

What then, sir?

Then so be it.

"So be it"?

We will not vote
for independence, Mr. Adams.

Not now,

not ever!

Mr. Duane well knows

that reconciliation would be
as agreeable to my inclinations,

and as advantageous
to my interests as to any man's!

but, I see no prospect for it,

no probability, no possibility!

And I cannot abide
the hypocritical heart

that pretends to expect peace
when in truth it does not.

This congress has no more right to pass
such a resolution than parliament has!

- We must beware of overreaching!
- Aye!

When demosthenes...

When Demosthenes traveled
as ambassador through Greece

he did not go, mr. President,

... through time!

If you plan on taking us
to creation itself,

I should like send word
to my landlady,

she should not waste
any eggs for my breakfast.

He did not go, Mr. President,
to propose a non-importation

- or non-consumption agreement.
- I beg your pardon, sir.

pray forgive me for not recognizing
the worthy Demosthenes.

I mistook you for a Massachusetts man.

Do you know the conduct of some states
from the beginning of this affair

has given me reason to suspect
that it is their settled policy

to keep to the rear of our confederacy
come what may,

so as not to harm
their future prospects?

- Mr. Adams...
- No, there are persons in Philadelphia

to whom a ship is dearer than a city,

and a few barrels
of flour dearer than 1000 lives.

Other men's lives.

That is an outrageous slander!

Gentlemen,
we cannot debate this endlessly.

I call for a vote on
Mr. Lee's resolution for independence.

- New Hampshire?
- New Hampshire votes yes.

- Connecticut?
- Connecticut votes yes.

- New Jersey?
- New Jersey votes no.

- Georgia?
- Georgia votes yes.

- Virginia?

Virginia votes yes.

- New York?
- New York votes no!

- North Carolina?
- North Carolina votes yes.

- One moment, please.

South Carolina,
on behalf of its sister colonies...

States!

requests a postponement
to seek new instructions.

20 days should be sufficient.

This is good.

Any objections?

No, none, sir.
No.

Congress shall reconvene on july 1st

to consider Mr. Lee's resolution.

Mr. President,
perhaps a committee should be formed

to present a statement to the people

should the vote
tend toward independence.

Mr. Dickinson?

Form your committee, Mr. Adams.
present!

The thought of what awaits us
in New York robs me of my sleep.

Are you so certain of defeat?

To give battle to the british army,

their ranks swollen with
the 17,000 hessians,

I know not how our men
will stand the test.

General Howe
elected to depart Boston in peace

rather than lay waste to the city.

New York may not be so fortunate.

That such evil
should befall a people...

Could it be punishment
for the sin of slavery?

I cannot say.

We grow gloomy, Mrs. Adams.

Forgive me.

I had hoped this visit
would be a respite from

what weighs upon me.

Is there some service
I may do for you?

For your family?

There is one thing that I would ask.

My correspondence with my husband
is more important than I can say.

It has become so difficult
to get letters through,

and...

fear of interception
has limited

what we may say to each other.

If I could impose

upon you to carry my letters...

My own courier will take them
safely to Philadelphia

along with my dispatches.

Thank you.

Your advice

is greatly valued by Mr. Adams.

The more quickly he receives it,

the more quickly we may all be
beneficiaries of your counsel.

I fear I cannot oblige you,
sir, because...

If we are to achieve
our longed-for separation from England,

we must be ready in the state
legislatures with new codes

of law and governance. and to that end
all my time away from the assembly

is taken up with urgent correspondence
on a new constitution for Virginia.

We are of the same mind there.

Massachusetts, too,
must have its constitution.

But I would have
one founded on principles

which could one day inform
the confederacy of all the states.

but we must first achieve
this long-hoped-for separation,

and to that end we must have
a declaration of principles.

Should you not write
this thing yourself?

No no.

I do not have time.

I head the board of war and ordinance

as well as serving on
22 other committees.

and the outcome of this great question
is far from certain,

so my energies must be spent **ing
the debate on the floor.

- And why me?
- Reasons enough, sir.

What can possibly be your reason?

First, you area virginian,
and a virginian should be at the head

of this business as
it's the most powerful state.

And second,

I am obnoxious,

suspected and unpopular.

And you are very much otherwise.

Third, and perhaps most important,

I have read your summary view
of the rights of British America

and I have a great opinion
of the elegance of your pen,

and none at all of my own.

You're too modest, sir.

You're the first to find me so, sir.

I am not by nature a humble man,

but circumstances sometimes
require a change of habits.

- I see that you're quite decided.
- That I am, Mr. Jefferson.

Quite.

Have you consulted with your husband?

Mr. Adams
is not here

and the pox is rampant.

Inoculation is not without risk.

The distemper manifests
itself differently in each person.

You and your children may experience

some fever and inflammation,
perhaps a form of the disease itself.

I am aware of the risks.

Some cases
have even resulted in death.

This is something altogether unexpected.

not only a declaration of
our independence, but...

of the rights of all men.

No this is well said, sir.

Very well said.

"The christi King of Great Britain

"has waged cruel war
against human nature itself

"in the persons of a distant people
who never offended him,

"captivating and carrying them
into slavery in another hemisphere."

Yes, you lay the evils
of slavery at the...

The feet of the King, but you say
nothing of slavery itself, sir.

Now surely,

if the trade is outlawed
but ownership is not,

then those unfortunate negroes
still in servitude

will become a more lucrative commodity.

That's not what I intended,
Dr. Franklin.

Slavery is an abomination
and must be loudly proclaimed as such,

but I own that neither I
nor any man has any

immediate solution to the problem.

It... is no matter.
The issue before us

is independence and not emancipation.

- Dr. Franklin, this document is...
- is something...

Something our friends
in the congress will debate.

But I will be very surprised

if they will countenance
an attack on slavery.

"We hold these truths
to be sacred and undeniable,

"that all men are created equal..."

Et cetera.

"sacred and undeniable."

Smacks of the pulpit.

Does it?

These truths are self-evident
are they not?

Perhaps.

Self-evident then.

Self-evident?

- Self-evident.
- Self-evident.

Do not mistake me, sir.

I share your sentiment.

Every single word was precisely chosen.

I assure you of that, Dr. Franklin.

Yes, but yours will not be
the only hand in this document.

It cannot be.

They will try to mangle it,
and they may succeed.

There may be expressions which I would

not have inserted if I had drawn it up,

but I will defend every word of it.

It's what I believe.

This is a...

A marvelous invention, Mr. Jefferson.

Yes, I went through
a number of variations.

This is by far the most successful.

The simplest is always the best.

It's two seats

and the top one swivels on rollers
made from

the window sash pulleys.

Most ingenious.

Stay inside.

One more time, lad.

Just a small cut.

Done.

Who's first?

So it's you?
What is your name?

- Charles.
- Charles.

Roll up your sleeve.
That's it.

Here we go.
Just a small cut.

Almost done.

There you are, lad.

- It'll hurt a little bit.
- I want papa.

Pa's not here.

We must depend upon ourselves.

One more, one more.

Almost done.

There lies our battle.

The others may yet come around,

but Pennsylvania and New York
are too self-interested, too tory.

Mr. Dickinson is too unbending.
And too effective.

Most effective, Mr. Adams,
most effective.

And rutledge.

Good luck to you, sir.

Congress will take into consideration
the resolution concerning independence.

Mr. Dickinson?

Gentlemen.

The consequences involved in the motion
now lying before us

are of such magnitude

that I tremble

at the oppressive honor of sharing

in its determination.

My conduct

this day, I expect,

will give the finishing blow

to my once great
and now much-diminished

popularity.

Yet I had rather forfeit

popularity forever

than vote away the blood

and happiness of my countrymen.

Independence

will not strengthen us by one man!

Nor by the least supply.

But it may expose our soldiers

to additional cruelties and outrages.

The full fury of British rifle

will be unleashed.

Indians will be loosest on the frontier.

Negros will rise up to slaughter us.

New York may well be destroyed.

By their own admission,

the advocates of separation
say foreign assistance

will be necessary.

At what cost?

Let us imagine a war without victors.

And the guns all silent.

Many would have bled and sacrificed

only to have exchanged
the light yoke of GB

for the heavy dominion
of an alien power.

Some have argued

that America

will become one great commonwealth.

But what is to keep 13 unwieldy colonies

from splitting asunder?

I have a strong impression in my mind

that this will take place.

Oh, gentlemen.

To escape the protection of GB
by declaring independance unprepared

as we are

would be to brave the storm

in a skiff made of paper.

As I recognize is Mr Adams,
Massachussetts.

Objects of the most

stupendous magnitude.

Measures which

will affect the lives
of millions, born and unborn

are now before us.

We must expect a great expense
of blood to obtain them

but we must always remember

that a free constitution
of civil government

cannot be purchased a too dear a rate

as there is nothing
on this side of Jerusalem,

of greater importance to mankind.

My worthy colleague from Pennsylvania

has spoken
with great ingenuity and eloquence.

He's given you a grim prognostication

of our national future,
but where he foresees apocalypse

I see hope.

I see a new nation

ready to take its place in the world.

Not an empire,
but a republic.

And a republic of laws,
not men.

Gentlemen,

we are in the very midst of revolution.

The most complete

unexpected and remarkable
of any in the history of the world.

How few of the human race

have ever had an opportunity

of choosing a system
of government for themselves,

and their children.

I am not without apprehensions,
gentlemen.

But the end that we have in sight
is more than worth all the means.

My belief says
that the hour has come.

My judgement approves this measure

and my whole heart is in it.

All that I have, all that I am

and all that I hope in this life,

I am now ready to stake upon it.

While I'll live,

let me have a country.

A free...

country.

Idle misspend of time.

Waste of breathe.

I said nothing but what have been

repeated and hackneyed
in that room before.

Hundred times past these 6 months.

On the contrary, Mr Adams.

You seemed quite carried out
of yourself.

Majority is ours, cousin.

9 to 4 in favor.

It must be unanimous.

- Where the devil is our friend Rodney?
- Gone back to Wilmington.

Trouble with the Tories, there.

We will never win Delaware without him.

Mr Rodney must be found
and fetched back here, Mr McCain.

Leave it to me.

Mr Adams.

A word with you, if I may?

Private word.

South Carolina
would be willing to consider

casting her vote with the majority.

You surprise me, sir.

We know which way
the wind blows, Mr Adams.

South Carolina has never been opposed

to the principle
of separation from Britain.

- Only the haste to achieve it.
- The times call for action, sir.

We southerners are accustomed
to more courtly form.

You have something to ask in return.

Only your assurance that there will be
no dissent from the other colonies.

Forgive me...

States.

You have it, sir.

Gentlemen can always reach agreement.

Admiral Howe has anchored a 150 ships
in view of Manhattan Island.

You ask me to consent
to our own destruction.

Thirteen stand
a greater chance than one.

We do not ask you to join us.

Only that you do not obstruct us.

NY would be willing to consider
such an arrangement.

If you can deliver Pennsylvania.

Consider this, Mr Dickinson,

that 2 of Pennsylvania's own delegates,
myself being one of them,

rose up today in opposition to you.

I will not compromise my beliefs.

A man of your reputation and honesty.

He should never compromise
his beliefs, sir.

I thank you for that, Mr Adams.

Understand me, sir.

Likely you're right, and we shall be

driven to independance.

But now,

it's not the time for some
dangerous and irrevocable action.

I cannot lend my voice
to hasten our ruin.

Perhaps if you're to find yourself,
somehow,

indisposed tomorrow?

Be still.

My brave girl.

Come no further.

Mabby, have a lion.

Thank you, Charles.

Bed!

Bed!

Cool?

Look!

What Charles gave you.

*This panel* now comes to a vote.

From a resolution proposed by Mr Lee.

These colonies are

and of right ought to be

free and independant states.

And that all political connection
between them and the country of GB is

and of the right ought to be

totally dissolved.

New Hampshire?

New Hampshire votes yes.

Rhode Island?

Rhode Island votes yes.

Massachusetts?

Massachusetts votes yes.

New York?

New York has yet to receive
new instructions

from its constituent assembly.

We, therefore, respectfully abstain.

Connecticut?

Connecticut votes yes.

New Jersey?

New Jersey votes yes.

Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania votes yes.

Delaware?

Delaware votes yes.

Virginia?

Virginia votes yes.

Maryland?

Maryland votes yes.

North Carolina?

North Carolina votes yes.

South Carolina?

South Carolina votes yes.

Georgia?

Georgia votes yes.

Vote stands.

12 for independence.

None against.

One abstention.

Resolution carries.

When, in the course of human events,

it becomes necessary for one people

to dissolve the polical bands
which have connected them with another

and to assume among
the powers of the earth

to the separate and equal station to

to which the Laws of Nature
and of Nature's God entitle them

A decent respect
of the opinions of mankind requires

that they should declare the causes
which impel them to the separation

We hold these truths to be self-evident.

that all men are created equal

that they are endowed
by their creator with certain un...

what's that word there?

unalienable.

with certain unalienable rights
that among these are life,

liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

That whenever any form of government

becomes destructive of these ends,

it is in the right of the people
to alter or abolish it

and to institute new government.

The history of the present king of GB

is a history of repeated injuries,

all having in direct object
the establishment

of an absolute tyranny
over these states.

In every stage of this oppression,
we have petitionned for redress

in the most humble terms.

Our repeated petitions
have been answered only by

repeated injury, a prince

whose character is thus marked by
every act which may define a tyrant

is unfit to be the ruler
of the free people.

We, therefore,

the representatives
of the United States of America

solemnly publish and declare

that these united colonies are

and of right ought to be

free and independent states

that they're absolved from
all allegiance to the british crown.

And for the support of this declaration
with a firm reliance

on the protection of divine providence,

we mutually pledge to each
other our lives

our fortunes and our sacred honor.

Bless you.

God save our american states.

God save our american states.

My dearest friend,

the break is made.

Now our work begins.

You will think me transported
with enthusiasm but I'm not.

It is the will of Heaven that Britain
and America should be scinded forever.

It may be the will of Heaven
that America shall suffer calamities

still more wasting
and distresses yet more dreadful.

I am well aware of the toil and blood
and treasure that it will cost us

to maintain this declaration
and support and defend these states.

Yet, through all the gloom, I can see
the raise of ravishing light and glory.

I can see that posterity will triumph...

in that day's transaction.