Declaration of Independence
•
By 1776 before the Continental Congress assembled in
Philadelphia, "comparisons with Exodus filled the air," notes Feiler.
On July 4, immediately after the Declaration of Independence was
officially passed, the Continental Congress asked John Adams,
Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin to design a seal that
would clearly represent a symbol for the new United States. They
chose the symbol of Moses leading the Israelites to freedom.(Feiler,
35) Historian Derek H. Davis describes Jefferson's own design idea
as being a depiction of "the Children of Israel in the wilderness, led
by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night."(Meacham, 81)
Leading up to independence there was a multitude of politicians and leading clergymen who described the colonists as
equivalent to the Israelites fleeing Egypt. Thomas Paine, in his well-known book Common Sense," also cited Gideon,
Samuel, and David, to support his argument against monarchies, and referred to King George III as a "Pharaoh of
England."(Feiler, 60)
Moses in American History
Moses in American History
Declaration of Independence
•
By 1776 before
the Continental
Congress
assembled in
Philadelphia,
"comparisons
with Exodus
filled the air,"
notes Feiler.
On July 4,
immediately after the
Declaration of Independence was officially passed, the
Continental Congress asked John Adams, Thomas Jefferson,
and Benjamin Franklin to design a seal that would clearly
represent a symbol for the new United States. They chose the
symbol of Moses leading the Israelites to freedom.(Feiler, 35)
Historian Derek H. Davis describes Jefferson's own design
idea as being a depiction of "the Children of Israel in the
wilderness, led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by
night."(Meacham, 81)
Leading up to independence there was a multitude of politicians
and leading clergymen who described the colonists as
equivalent to the Israelites fleeing Egypt. Thomas
Paine, in his well-known book Common Sense,"
also cited Gideon, Samuel, and David, to
support his argument against monarchies, and
referred to King George III as a "Pharaoh of
England."(Feiler, 60)
