This selection by American statesman and political philosopher Samuel Adams — whom the famous beer was named after — was taken from a speech delivered in the Continental Congress, about one month after the Declaration of Independence. At the beginning of the speech, Adams is thinking of the hope still cherished by some Americans of a peaceable settlement with England. The British government made such overtures from time to time. Warren and Montgomery, mentioned in the last paragraph, were American generals killed early in the war, Warren at Bunker Hill and Montgomery at the storming of Quebec. I transcribed it in Simplified Gregg for the blog.

Attachment: what-independence-means.pdf