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A scholar's mission to honor John Dickinson, the Declaration signer who wasn't
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Jane Calvert has spent 25 years advocating for a reevaluation of John Dickinson, a Revolutionary War-era founder often overlooked or criticized for not signing the Declaration of Independence.
- Dickinson was a prominent early patriot, known as the "Penman of the Revolution" for his influential writings opposing British taxation, but he favored a gradual, peaceful path to independence.
- Despite abstaining from signing the Declaration, Dickinson continued to serve in militias, helped draft the June 1776 Articles of Confederation, supported the U.S. Constitution, and held political office in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
- Dickinson's legacy has been overshadowed by portrayals that paint him as a naysayer, but scholars like Calvert argue he deserves recognition alongside leading founders for his principled stance and contributions.
- Dickinson's principled opposition to war has found rare sympathetic depiction in popular culture, such as a 2003 "South Park" episode, highlighting his antiwar motivations during the Revolution.
