John Dunlap welcomed 1776 by printing a list of twenty “Remarkable EVENTS” from the previous year, written especially for his Philadelphia newspaper, the Pennsylvania Packet. The first event highlighted the colonists’ distance from the seat of British power. In Common Sense, published in Philadelphia one week later, Thomas Paine made a similar observation, writing that “there is something very absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island.”

The tenth event in the list featured George Washington, the “Virginia Farmer” who became commander of the Continental Army and the eighteenth event marked the establishment of the Navy and Marine Corps. Otherwise, this year in review seems to anticipate the Declaration of Independence by building up grievances about the British king, Parliament, military forces, and perceived allies. In fact, the list concludes by claiming that the “Colonies at last were roused to a proper sense of the injuries they had sustained from the usurpations of the British Parliament—from the insolence of the ministry—the obstinacy and bloody mindedness of the King—and the inhumanity of their brethren in Great Britain.” The new year commenced with an understanding that the colonists needed to take drastic steps to protect their liberties.

Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet or, the General Advertiser
January 1, 1776
Printed by John Dunlap

For the Pennsylvania Packet.

Remarkable EVENTS in the Year 1775.

I. GREAT-BRITAIN resolved to hold three millions of people, at 3,000 miles distance from her, by the tenure of her power, after having enjoyed a supremacy over them for 200 years, by the tenure of affection.

II. Great Britain risqued the loss of three millions a year, in trade, for taxes, the amount of which would not more than defray the expense of collecting them.

III. A British Parliament voted an army to enforce British laws upon America.

IV. The Parliament of Great-Britain decreed, and afterwards a majority of the English nation believed, that the freemen of America would not fight in defence of their liberty.

V. The Court of Britain sued to all the European States not to supply the Americans with military stores.

VI. Thirteen Colonies, differing from each other in laws, religion, manners, and interests, united to oppose the British troops by arms.

VII. 2000 veteran British soldiers were attacked and defeated by 300 peasants, and were saved from total destruction by running 40 miles in one day.

VIII. The peasants sought behind stone walls, houses, and other coverings, and were never seen by the regulars, according to Gen. Gage’s letter, and yet in the same letter it is said, great numbers of them were killed.

IX. 700 Americans attacked 2,500 regulars, and after killing and wounding one half of them retired to their main guard.

X. An army of Americans, commanded by a Virginia Farmer, blocked up 10,000 British troops, commanded by three of the ablest Generals in the British service.

XI. General Howe consented to enslave a province which erected a monument to the memory of his brother, in Westminster Abbey.

XII. General Burgoyne came over to America “to coax the Gentlemen and to dance the Ladies into submission to the British Parliament,” and to “temper his punishments with humanity,” lived six months upon salt meat, wrote two letters, the one (for Gen. Gage) to Gen. Washington, in which he destined our prisoners to the cord, the other, to a noble Lord in England, both in heroics. Did not inflict a single punishment upon an American—nor dance with one of our Ladies—got into a passion—and went home again.

XIII. General Gage called a council of war. His whole army waited with impatience for the event of their deliberations. Some thought that an attack was to be made upon the American army—others, that all the cities on the continent were immediately to be laid in ashes. The council concluded unanimously to publish two intercepted letters written by one of the Delegates of the Congress to his friends. The whole army rejoiced upon the account of this signal victory.

XIV. Great-Britain called upon Hanoverians,—Hessians—Russians—Irish Roman Catholics—Canadians—Savages and Negroes to assist her in enslaving the Americans.

XV. The Canadians—Savages—and Negroes were struck with horror to cruelty and injustice of the proposal, and refused to assist her.

XVI. The Canadians desired to join in the American confederacy, their former enmity to the Colonies being now done away: And no wonder, since they were both delivered from the influence of Royal masters who taught them to hate one another.

XVII. Most of the Officers of the Crown in America gave up their commissions or fled from their habitations. Lord Dunmore could no longer to the restraints of his high birth and office, but turned pirate and highwayman.

XVIII. The American Colonies laid the foundation of a fleet, and resolved to protect their own trade, and to oppose their enemies by sea.

XIX. France—Spain—and Holland—renewed their assurances of their pacific intention towards the Court of Britain, but privately assisted the Americans with military stores.

XX. The Colonies at last were roused to a proper sense of the injuries they had sustained from the usurpations of the British Parliament—from the insolence of the ministry—the obstinacy and bloody mindedness of the King—and the inhumanity of their brethren in Great-Britain, and began to * * * * * * * as the only means that could secure peace—liberty—and safety to America.