By the Declaration of Independence, dreaded by the foes an for a

The Birth of a Nation’s Dignity

Hear the words of Mercy Otis Warren, the poet and historian of the American Revolution, whose pen captured the spirit of her age and whose heart beat with the fire of liberty:

“By the Declaration of Independence, dreaded by the foes and for a time doubtfully viewed by many of the friends of America, everything stood on a new and more respectable footing, both with regard to the operations of war or negotiations with foreign powers.”

In these lines, Warren, that wise daughter of freedom, reveals the moment when an uncertain rebellion became a sovereign cause—when America, long a cluster of colonies, rose to the stature of a nation. Before the Declaration, the struggle was but an uprising; after it, it was a war for independence, sanctified by purpose and recognized by the world. Her words ring with both awe and reverence, for she had seen how the power of a single act—the formal claim of liberty—could transform a scattered people into one body, united in destiny and dignity.

The Meaning of Respectable Footing

When Warren writes that the Declaration placed America on a “more respectable footing,” she speaks of moral elevation as much as political. For respect is not given to those who beg for mercy—it is earned by those who claim their rights with courage and conviction. Before July 4, 1776, the colonies were seen as rebellious subjects, a nuisance to the British crown. But with that immortal document, penned in Jefferson’s steady hand and sealed by the signatures of brave men, the colonies declared themselves equals among nations.

To Warren, this transformation was not merely of status but of soul. The act of declaring independence made the American cause sacred. It announced to the world—and to the Americans themselves—that they would no longer fight as dependents seeking favor, but as a free people demanding recognition. Respect, both at home and abroad, was born not of wealth or weaponry, but of the courage to stand as masters of one’s own fate.

The Birth of Political Legitimacy

Warren’s insight also touches upon the realm of diplomacy, the subtle art of nations. Before the Declaration, the colonies had no legal identity. They could not form alliances or treaties; their envoys had no standing in the courts of Europe. But once they declared independence, they possessed what she calls “a new and more respectable footing”—a place among sovereign states.

Now, France and Spain could look upon them not as rebels, but as a new nation-in-arms. This legitimacy would soon open doors that muskets could not. Within two years, Benjamin Franklin—bearing the dignity of an official representative—secured France’s support, turning the tide of the war. Warren saw in these developments the proof that freedom, once declared, commands the world’s attention. For nations, like individuals, must first believe in their own worth before others will recognize it.

The Courage to Declare

Yet Warren, ever the keen observer of the human heart, knew that the Declaration was not embraced by all with immediate joy. She reminds us that it was “dreaded by the foes” and “doubtfully viewed by many of the friends of America.” The enemies of liberty feared its fire, for they knew that an idea so pure could not easily be extinguished. But even among its supporters, there was hesitation—a trembling before the unknown. To sever ties with the world’s mightiest empire was to step into uncharted peril.

Still, the patriots declared. And in that declaration, Warren found the essence of greatness: the willingness to risk everything for principle. True independence, she teaches us, is never born in comfort—it rises from doubt, fear, and sacrifice. The signers of that document pledged “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor,” not knowing whether history would remember them as founders or as traitors. And yet they signed.

The Example of Transformation

To understand the depth of Warren’s insight, we might look to another people who declared their identity amid oppression—the Hungarians of 1848, who rose against Habsburg rule. Like the Americans before them, they sought self-determination. Their revolution, though crushed, inspired generations to come. For even when independence is lost in battle, the act of declaring it ignites an eternal flame. So it was in America, where Warren saw that the Declaration gave meaning to every hardship, every wound, every fallen soldier. It transformed mere resistance into destiny.

In this, she teaches that the power of any great endeavor lies not merely in victory, but in vision—the courage to say, “We are free,” even before freedom is won.

The Lesson for the Ages

From Warren’s reflection, we learn that independence—whether national, moral, or personal—must first be declared before it can be achieved. One cannot wait for permission to be free; freedom begins the moment one claims it. The Declaration of Independence was not only a statement to the world—it was a promise to the future, a vow that those who fought under its banner would never again live as subjects of another’s will.

So too in our own lives, we must find the courage to make our own declarations—to stand upon the respectable footing of self-determination. Whether in the face of tyranny, fear, or doubt, we must, like the founders, proclaim our independence of spirit. For respect—personal or national—comes only to those who act with integrity, conviction, and courage.

The Eternal Flame of Freedom

Thus, Mercy Otis Warren’s words stand not merely as history, but as prophecy. She saw that the Declaration was more than parchment—it was the soul of a new world, the moment when ideals became flesh. It taught humanity that the respect of nations and of individuals flows not from birth or rank, but from the moral power of self-governance.

Let every generation remember her wisdom: that freedom must be spoken before it is lived, and once spoken, it reshapes the world. For the Declaration of Independence did not only free America—it forever changed the measure of what it means to be human.