I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace, that two are called a law firm, and that three or more become a Congress! And by God, I have had this Congress! For ten years, King George and his Parliament have gulled, cullied, and diddled these colonies with their illegal taxes! Stamp Acts, Townshend Acts, Sugar Acts, Tea Acts! And when we dared stand up like men, they have stopped our trade, seized our ships, blockaded our ports, burned our towns, and spilled our BLOOD! And still, this Congress refuses to grant ANY of my proposals on independence, even so much as the courtesy of open debate! Good God, what in hell are you waiting for?
(to God) A second flood, a simple famine, plagues of locusts everywhere, or a cataclysmic earthquake, I'd accept with some despair. But no, you sent us Congress! Good God, Sir, was that fair?!
John Dickinson: (after John Hancock calls for all members of the Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence) I'm sorry, Mr. President. I cannot, in good conscience, sign such a document. I will never stop hoping for our eventual reconciliation with England. But because, in my own way, I regard American no less than does Mr. Adams, I will join the army, and fight in her defense. Even though I believe that fight to be hopeless. Goodbye gentlemen.
Richard Henry Lee: Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
Continental Congress: (in unison) Oh for God sake's, John, SIT DOWN!!!
John Adams: (scoffs) I have more to do than stand here all day listening to you quote yourself.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Oh, John, that was a new one!
John Adams: Incredible, we're free and he hasn't even left yet! What makes you think you can do it?
Richard Henry Lee:(singing)My name is Richard Henry Lee; Virginia is my home
Secretary Thomson: (calling for a vote) Where's Rhode Island?
John Hancock: Well, after what Rhode Island has consumed, I can't say I'm surprised. We'll come back to him, Mr. Thomson.
Secretary Thomson: Rhode Island passes.
(Roar of laughter from the Congress)
(Dickinson has been banging a cane on table to emphasize a point)
(laughter from Congress)
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Higher, certainly, than she feels for them. Never was such a valuable possession so stupidly and recklessly managed, than this entire continent by the British crown. Our industry discouraged, our resources pillaged... first of all our very character stifled. We've spawned a new race here, Mr. Dickinson. Rougher, simpler; more violent, more enterprising; less refined. We're a new nationality. We require a new nation.
A handful of drunk and disorderly recruits against the entire British Army?
(debating Virginia's resolution on independence)
(a brawl breaks out)
The finest musket men on earth. How can we win? How can we even hope to survive?
(After a dispatch from General Washington regarding the poor discipline and morale of the Continental Army at New Brunswick)
John Dickinson: Come, come, Mr. Adams, you must see that it's hopeless? Let us recall General Washington and disband the Continental Army before we're overwhelmed.
John Adams: Oh yes indeed, the English would like that now, wouldn't they?
John Dickinson: Why not ask them yourself, they ought to be here any minute.
Edward Rutledge: And when they hang you, Mr. Adams, I hope you will put in a good word for the rest of us?
Samuel Chase: Face facts Mr. Adams. A handful of drunk and disorderly recruits against the entire British Army? The finest musket men on earth. How can we win? How can we even hope to survive?
( Adams and Franklin are at a loss for explaining why a written declaration is needed)
Samuel Chase MD: Answer straight: what would be its purpose?
(winks at Adams and Franklin)
John Adams: (reading a note tossed down from Jefferson) "Dear Mr. Adams, I am taking my wife back to bed. Kindly go away. Your obedient, T. Jefferson." Incredible!
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: (chuckles) You know, perhaps I should have written the Declaration. At my age there's little doubt that the pen is mightier than the sword.
(discussing a passage condemning slavery in the Declaration of Independence)
Edward Rutledge: Remove it, or South Carolina will bury, now and forever, your dream of independence.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: John, I beg you, consider what you're doing.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: That's probably true, but we won't hear a thing. We will be long gone. Besides, what will posterity think we were? Demigods? We're men, no more, no less. Trying to get a nation started against greater odds than a more generous God would have allowed. First things first John, independence America. If we don't secure that, what difference will the rest make?
Thomas Jefferson: I wrote all of it, Mr Adams.
Howard Da Silva as Dr. Benjamin Franklin (PA)
Ralston Hill as Secretary Charles Thomson
1776 quotes at the Internet Movie Database
Retrieved from "https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=1776_(film)&oldid=2687336"
I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace, that two are called a law firm, and that three or more become a Congress! And by God, I have had this Congress! For ten years, King George and his Parliament have gulled, cullied, and diddled these colonies with their illegal taxes! Stamp Acts, Townshend Acts, Sugar Acts, Tea Acts! And when we dared stand up like men, they have stopped our trade, seized our ships, blockaded our ports, burned our towns, and spilled our BLOOD! And still, this Congress refuses to grant ANY of my proposals on independence, even so much as the courtesy of open debate! Good God, what in hell are you waiting for?
(to God) A second flood, a simple famine, plagues of locusts everywhere, or a cataclysmic earthquake, I'd accept with some despair. But no, you sent us Congress! Good God, Sir, was that fair?!
John Dickinson: (after John Hancock calls for all members of the Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence) I'm sorry, Mr. President. I cannot, in good conscience, sign such a document. I will never stop hoping for our eventual reconciliation with England. But because, in my own way, I regard American no less than does Mr. Adams, I will join the army, and fight in her defense. Even though I believe that fight to be hopeless. Goodbye gentlemen.
Richard Henry Lee: Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
Continental Congress: (in unison) Oh for God sake's, John, SIT DOWN!!!
John Adams: (scoffs) I have more to do than stand here all day listening to you quote yourself.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Oh, John, that was a new one!
John Adams: Incredible, we're free and he hasn't even left yet! What makes you think you can do it?
Richard Henry Lee:(singing)My name is Richard Henry Lee; Virginia is my home
Secretary Thomson: (calling for a vote) Where's Rhode Island?
John Hancock: Well, after what Rhode Island has consumed, I can't say I'm surprised. We'll come back to him, Mr. Thomson.
Secretary Thomson: Rhode Island passes.
(Roar of laughter from the Congress)
(Dickinson has been banging a cane on table to emphasize a point)
(laughter from Congress)
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Higher, certainly, than she feels for them. Never was such a valuable possession so stupidly and recklessly managed, than this entire continent by the British crown. Our industry discouraged, our re
sources pillaged... first of all our very character stifled. We've spawned a new race here, Mr. Dickinson. Rougher, simpler; more violent, more enterprising; less refined. We're a new nationality. We require a new nation.
A handful of drunk and disorderly recruits against the entire British Army?
(debating Virginia's resolution on independence)
(a brawl breaks out)
The finest musket men on earth. How can we win? How can we even hope to survive?
(After a dispatch from General Washington regarding the poor discipline and morale of the Continental Army at New Brunswick)
John Dickinson: Come, come, Mr. Adams, you must see that it's hopeless? Let us recall General Washington and disband the Continental Army before we're overwhelmed.
John Adams: Oh yes indeed, the English would like that now, wouldn't they?
John Dickinson: Why not ask them yourself, they ought to be here any minute.
Edward Rutledge: And when they hang you, Mr. Adams, I hope you will put in a good word for the rest of us?
Samuel Chase: Face facts Mr. Adams. A handful of drunk and disorderly recruits against the entire British Army? The finest musket men on earth. How can we win? How can we even hope to survive?
( Adams and Franklin are at a loss for explaining why a written declaration is needed)
Samuel Chase MD: Answer straight: what would be its purpose?
(winks at Adams and Franklin)
John Adams: (reading a note tossed down from Jefferson) "Dear Mr. Adams, I am taking my wife back to bed. Kindly go away. Your obedient, T. Jefferson." Incredible!
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: (chuckles) You know, perhaps I should have written the Declaration. At my age there's little doubt that the pen is mightier than the sword.
(discussing a passage condemning slavery in the Declaration of Independence)
Edward Rutledge: Remove it, or South Carolina will bury, now and forever, your dream of independence.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: John, I beg you, consider what you're doing.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: That's probably true, but we won't hear a thing. We will be long gone. Besides, what will posterity think we were? Demigods? We're men, no more, no less. Trying to get a nation started against greater odds than a more generous God would have allowed. First things first John, independence America. If we don't secure that, what difference will the rest make?
Thomas Jefferson: I wrote all of it, Mr Adams.
Howard Da Silva as Dr. Benjamin Franklin (PA)
Ralston Hill as Secretary Charles Thomson
1776 quotes at the Internet Movie Database
Retrieved from "https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=1776_(film)&oldid=2687336"