REVOLUTION, LAW AND ORDER U.S.A.

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of salves.

William Pitt

The 26^th October is chock-full of stuff, much of it related to the United States.

George III

On the 26^th October 1775 King George the Third of Great Britain went before parliament to officially announce that the thirteen American colonies were in rebellion against the British.  He was also able to authorize a military response to halt the American rebellion.  The British sent armies to invade the colonies and used the British naval forces to blockade the coast.

Exactly one year later, on the 26^th October 1776, one month to the day after being named an agent of a diplomatic commission by the Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin set sail from Philadelphia for France on a mission to seek French support for the American Revolution.

Franklin

In France, the accomplished Franklin was feted throughout scientific and literary circles and he quickly became a fixture in high society. While his personal achievements were celebrated, Franklin's diplomatic success in France was slow in coming. Although it had been secretly aiding the Patriot cause since the outbreak of the American Revolution, France felt it could not openly declare a formal allegiance with the United States until they were assured of an American victory over the British.

For the next year, Franklin made friends with influential officials throughout France, while continuing to push for a formal alliance. France continued to secretly support the Patriot cause with shipments of war supplies, but it was not until the American victory over the British at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777 that France felt an American victory in the war was possible.

Louis XVI

A few short months after the Battle of Saratoga, representatives of the United States and France, including Benjamin Franklin, officially declared an alliance by signing the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance on 6^th February 1778. The French aid that these agreements guaranteed was crucial to the eventual American victory over the British in the War for Independence.

It should be remembered that Franklin, aged 70, was dealing with the Court of King Louis XVI, who was 22 years old and had only been on the throne for 2 years.

Tombstone 1881

Wyatt Earp

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a gunfight that took place at about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 26^th October 1881, in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, and is generally regarded as the most famous gunfight in the history of the American West.. The gunfight, believed to have lasted only about thirty seconds, was fought between the outlaw Cowboys Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and his brother Frank McLaury, and the opposing lawmen Virgil Earp and his brothers Morgan and Wyatt Earp, aided by Doc Holliday acting as a temporary deputy of Virgil. Cowboys Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne ran from the fight unharmed, but Ike's brother Billy Clanton was killed, along with both McLaurys. Lawmen Holliday and Morgan and Virgil Earp were wounded. Only Wyatt Earp came through the fight unharmed.

Annotated 1886 fire map of Tombstone

indicating the actual shootout location

(in green) and the O.K. Corral (in yellow)

on the other side of the block.

Doc Holliday

On 26^th October 2001, the USA PATRIOT Act (commonly known as the Patriot Act) is an Act of the United Styates Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The title of the act is a ten letter backkronym (USA PATRIOT) that stands for Uniting (and) Strengthening America (by) Providing Appropriate Tools Required (to) Intercept (and) Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.

The act, as a response to the terrorist attacks of the 11^th September., significantly reduced restrictions in law enforcement agencies' gathering of intelligence within the United States; expanded the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The act also expanded the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the USA PATRIOT Act’s expanded law enforcement powers can be applied.

Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001

Why does it take a Television Program to remind us of principles.