Delaware, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania delegates sided with independence to preserve colonial unanimity

Evidence

July 2 brought that promised unity. No further debate occurred—just the vote. Summoned by a pro-independence delegate, Caesar Rodney rode through the night from Delaware to reach Congress in time to vote. “As I believe the voice of my constituents and of all sensible and honest men is in favor of Independence,” Rodney reportedly declared, “I vote for independence.” With this, Delaware voted aye. Word had reached Congress that fifty British warships had anchored off Charleston, South Carolina, preparing to attack the city. Knowing that the resolution would pass anyway and that his constituents favored separation, “for the sake of unanimity,” Jefferson reported him saying, Rutledge joined the majority. With his concurrence, South Carolina too voted aye. When Pennsylvania’s turn came, having failed to defeat the resolution on July 1, Dickinson and his likeminded colleague Robert Morris left the floor and let the colony’s other delegates vote. By a margin of three to two, Pennsylvania also voted aye. The resolution on independence passed twelve to none with New York abstaining. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 221

Categorization

• XREF: Links to modern legislative practice where minority factions yield to preserve unanimous front, relevant to course discussions of unanimity vs. majority rule as foundational values. — connects to: Leading patriots delayed independence until all colonies could agree — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 160; Assembly instructions constrained four middle colonies’ delegates against independence — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 180; Pennsylvania’s governance structure shaped its anti-independence stance — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 178 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Independence required unanimity across colonial delegations #qualifies (0.85) — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 126