John Dickinson, Penman of the Revolution

The John Dickinson House, also called Poplar Hall, is open for the public to view at the John Dickinson Plantation located Kitts Hummock Road. In 1739, Samuel Dickinson started constructing the mansion that his son, John Dickinson, would spend most of his childhood. The mansion was just one of the many buildings that were located on the plantations. These plantations were large, agricultural money-makers run by slaves. Their major production was tobacco, wheat, and corn. Many people forget about Dickinson, underestimating how important his impact was to American history. Many scholars do not rank Dickinson with the principal Founders because he refused to sign the Declaration of Independence, which severely damaged his reputation forever. This plantation is important because it is the home of John Dickinson. This is the home that gave America John Dickerson, a vital part of our history as a politician, as a writer, and as a social influence.

Starting with the Sugar Act in 1764, all the way through to ratifying the Constitution in 1789, John Dickinson was a major influence on the events that resulted in the origin of the United States. He was at many times a Continental Congressman from both Pennsylvania and Delaware; moreover, the only person to be President of Delaware and President of Pennsylvania simultaneously. As a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, he supported the effort to create a strong fundamental administration, but only after the Great Compromise guaranteed that each state, despite its size, would have an equal representation in the upcoming United States Senate and relative representation in the House of Representatives. After the Convention, he supported the consequential Constitution ...

... middle of paper ...

...label that is usually attached to his name. As man of great morals and ethics, Dickinson never changed his principles. As a traditionalist, he did not support independence until he actually believed it was the right thing for the country. He refused to ignorantly just jump on the wagon to support our independence. Dickinson, like Washington, had the ability to see the bigger picture. Every aspect of our nation’s history has been touched in some way by John Dickinson. No matter what anyone’s personal opinion of him is he will always be a man committed to his country. He laid out many foundations for our government in this country; many are still at least partially used in our government today. Most importantly, his role was essential in the history of the United States of America, even if he is not one of the most popular or favorite of our Founding Fathers.