T5634-From Reluctance to Resolve - George Read

“From Reluctance to Resolve.”
At 43 years old, George Read of Delaware stood at the crossroads of diplomacy and defiance. A respected lawyer and former Crown attorney, he initially counseled reconciliation with Britain—and even voted against independence on July 2, 1776. But when the tide turned and hope for peace vanished, Read signed the Declaration with full conviction, standing by the cause through six years on the run while the British occupied his home and took his wife prisoner. He helped draft Delaware’s first constitution, defended his small state’s rights during the formation of the Union, and proudly signed the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Delaware would become the first to ratify it—thanks in part to his leadership. Read’s journey from cautious loyalist to founding patriot reminds us that even reluctant hearts can become resolute. His charge remains: guard the Republic well.

Categories: American History