The 13 Colonies adopted a flag which first flew over the Eastern Seaboard this week 250 years ago.
America was marching toward declaring its freedom from the mightiest military power at that time. The American Colonists were ill-equipped and fractioned with different economies in the north, south and in between. Slavery was a dividing issue with the South and most Northerners demanding to keep their slaves. General George Washing had a large number of slaves, approaching 200 at his homestead at Mt. Vernon. He owned slaved until he died and freed those slaves only at his passing via his Last Will. Almost all of those attending the Continental Congress owned slaves with that being an acceptable practice at that time.
The times have changed since America formally declared its Independence from Great Britain. We have to understand that what was acceptable then is no longer acceptable today. This “grand experiment in Democracy” continues today. We still have our deficiencies, but we started the revolt against a totalitarian monarchy and will continue in this “grand experiment.” We can see how far we have evolved by looking at our past. As we look to celebrating our 250th, where will we be in 250 years?