Resistance, Revolution, and Liberty: The Untold Legacy of John Hancock
“I glory in publicly avowing my eternal enmity to tyranny.”
On January 23, 1737, one of America’s most important yet often overlooked revolutionaries was born: John Hancock.
Though he is widely recognized today for his iconic signature on the Declaration of Independence, Hancock’s contributions to the American Revolution and the founding of the United States extend far beyond that stroke of his famous pen.
TOO DANGEROUS FOR A PARDON
John Hancock played a crucial role in organizing and funding resistance to the British. His leadership represented a visible and active challenge to British power, which made him a prime target.
In 1775, shortly after the battles of Lexington and Concord ignited open conflict, British General Thomas Gage offered a blanket pardon to all who agreed to lay down their arms and pledge loyalty to the Crown. But it came with a caveat.
This offer explicitly excluded John Hancock and Samuel Adams, whom Gage described as having committed offenses “too flagitious a nature to admit of any other consideration than that of condign punishment.”
This deliberate exclusion underscored Hancock’s prominence as a revolutionary leader.
The Second Continental Congress – with Hancock as its president – responded decisively. Just weeks later, they issued the “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms,” co-authored by Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson.
This powerful document justified the colonies’ armed resistance, firmly rejecting the British offer of amnesty. The Congress made it clear there would be no deal to surrender Hancock or Adams, nor would the colonists submit to British violence.
“In our own native land, in defence of the freedom that is our birth-right, and which we ever enjoyed till the late violation of it; for the protection of our property, acquired solely by the honest industry of our forefathers and ourselves, against violence actually offered, we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors, and all danger of their being renewed shall be removed, and not before.”
FOUNDING FATHER OF THE 10TH AMENDMENT
“The powers reserved to the people render them secure.”
John Hancock’s influence extended into the ratification debates of the Constitution, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the debate and strategy that would eventually lead to the 10th Amendment.
In October 1787, Richard Henry Lee sent a number of recommended amendments for the proposed Constitution to Samuel Adams, who collaborated closely with Hancock.
By early 1788, the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, deeply divided, seemed poised to reject the Constitution without guarantees of future amendments to the system.
Hancock and Adams negotiated a critical compromise with Federalist leaders: Massachusetts agreed to ratify the Constitution while recommending a set of amendments to limit federal power.
Chief among these was this precursor to the 10th Amendment: “First, that it be explicitly declared that all powers not expressly delegated by the aforesaid Constitution are reserved to the several States, to be by them exercised.”
Thomas Jefferson praised the Massachusetts plan, describing it as a preferable alternative to his own strategy to obtain amendments.
In a letter to Edward Carrington in May 1788, Jefferson noted, “My first wish was that 9 states would adopt it in order to ensure what was good in it, and that the others might, by holding off, produce the necessary amendments. But the plan of Massachusetts is far preferable, and will I hope be followed by those who are yet to decide.”
This groundbreaking approach not only secured Massachusetts’ support for ratification, but also set a precedent that influenced other states to follow suit, including both Virginia and New York.
The importance of Hancock’s work cannot be overstated.
By championing federalism he helped ensure that the balance of power under the Constitution remained rooted in the people and their states. Hancock’s legacy in this regard solidifies his role as one of the founding fathers of the 10th Amendment.
THE STAMP ACT CRISIS
Hancock’s revolutionary journey began during the Stamp Act crisis of 1765.
Initially moderate, Hancock soon aligned with leaders of the Sons of Liberty, like Samuel Adams, adopting a more defiant stance against British policies.
Weeks before the Stamp Act was set to take effect, Hancock wrote to his London agent, Jonathan Bernard, declaring that “the people of this country will never be made slaves of by a submission to the Damned act.”
This sentiment underscored a key revolutionary principle: resistance to unconstitutional acts was essential to preserve liberty.
FIRST ACT OF PHYSICAL RESISTANCE
Hancock’s defiance continued through the Townshend Acts of 1767, which imposed new duties on essential goods like glass, paper, and tea.
In a bold act of defiance, Hancock’s ship, Lydia, became the center of a heated confrontation in Boston Harbor in April 1768. British customs officers, lacking the required writ of assistance – a general search warrant – attempted to board and search the vessel. Acting on Hancock’s direct orders, the crew physically blocked their access and ultimately expelled them from the ship
This bold and unprecedented act of defiance earned Hancock widespread admiration and demonstrated the colonies’ increasing willingness to challenge British authority. Some contemporaries even hailed this confrontation as the first act of physical resistance in the American Revolution.
Later that year, Hancock’s ship, Liberty, became the focal point of the “Liberty Affair,” a pivotal moment in colonial resistance. British authorities accused Hancock of smuggling and, in a dramatic act of asset forfeiture, seized the vessel without proof of wrongdoing. They then used the Liberty to enforce British trade regulations, further enraging the local population.
Though the charges were never proven, the incident led to widespread outrage and even violent riots, as Hancock was immensely popular among the colonists.
In Rhode Island, demonstrators burned the British ship Gaspee in retaliation, symbolizing the escalation of resistance. Some historians even credit the confrontation over Hancock’s ships as the symbolic beginning of the War for Independence.
MASSACRE DAY ORATION
In 1770, following the Boston Massacre, Hancock played a key role in demanding accountability and the removal of British troops.
Leading a committee, he issued an ultimatum to Governor Hutchinson, reportedly threatening to march 10,000 armed colonists into Boston if the troops were not withdrawn.
Despite opinions that Hancock was possibly bluffing, the threat succeeded, forcing the British to temporarily remove their troops and easing tensions in the short term. This calculated display of leadership further solidified Hancock’s reputation as a champion of liberty and a trusted revolutionary leader.
Hancock’s oration on the fourth anniversary of the massacre in 1774 remains one of his most powerful public moments. Despite not being known as a skilled orator, his speech captivated the audience and articulated the broader stakes of the revolution.
In his speech, he declared, “I glory in publicly avowing my eternal enmity to tyranny.”
He reminded the audience that the revolution was not merely about taxation without representation but about resisting the British government’s claim to “full power to make laws… in all cases whatsoever,” a reference to the Declaratory Act of 1766.
This declaration resonated deeply, as it highlighted the colonists’ fight against the underlying threat of unlimited, centralized power.
A LEGACY IN NEED OF RECOGNITION
Despite his pivotal role in both the American Revolution and the ratification of the Constitution, John Hancock’s legacy has been overshadowed by a combination of limited personal writings and deliberate efforts by his political opponents to diminish his achievements.
As early as 1809, John Adams lamented that Hancock and Samuel Adams were “almost buried in oblivion,” criticizing the public’s neglect of their own revolutionary history. Modern historians face challenges in reconstructing Hancock’s life, often relying on biased accounts from those who sought to portray him as self-serving.
Yet Hancock’s courage, leadership, and dedication to liberty remain undeniable. From defying British authority to championing state sovereignty, his life exemplifies the revolutionary spirit that defined America’s founding.
As we commemorate John Hancock’s birthday, let us remember his words: “Surely you will never tamely suffer this country to be a den of thieves. Remember, my friends, from whom you sprang.”
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