
A Watchman’s Appeal to the Common People, Weeks Before the Declaration
July 4, 2026
Weeks before the Declaration of Independence was published, a Philadelphia essayist under the name ‘A Watchman’ put the Loyalists on blast — reminding Pennsylvanians that common people made up nine-tenths of the population, and making the case for the independence that would become official just weeks later.
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Scratch Post explores news archives, unveiling America’s history through curated newspaper clips, historic reports, and overlooked stories that have shaped the world we know today.
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