Today In Maryland’s History – Bush Declaration Signed In Harford County

HARFORD COUNTY, Md. — The American Revolution helped kick-start what would become the effort to create the United States of America, and the Bush Declaration was an important resolution relating to the revolution that was adopted on this day in history in Harford County, Maryland, to show support for the Patriot cause.

March 22, 1775, marked the day that the Bush Declaration was adopted. A total of 34 committee members signed the Bush Declaration in Maryland, which was considered to be rebellious and could potentially be treated similarly to treason by the British Empire.

The Bush Declaration showed strong support for the city of Boston, which the British considered to be in a state of rebellion. The events in Boston were only the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775, which would not officially be won until 1783.

This declaration was not technically a call to separate from the British, but it is often considered a stepping stone to America’s independence. Less than a month after the Bush Declaration was signed, the Battle of Lexington and Concord occurred on April 19, 1775, pushing the fight for independence to new heights across the colonies.

Prior to the Declaration of Independence, many documents were signed by communities across the 13 colonies to show their support for the Continental Congress and its values. The Bush Declaration was among the first county-level documents of this variety to be signed in Maryland.

Maryland was an important state in securing independence for America, and its importance to the union would continue for centuries, even into the modern day. Furthermore, the Bush Declaration was a notable document in America’s battle for sovereignty, forever marking March 22 as an important day in Maryland’s history.

Fun fact: The Bush Declaration is often referred to by many different names, including the Harford Declaration, the Bush River Resolution and the Bush River Declaration.

What Does The Bush Declaration Say?

As one of the first county declarations to show support for the American Revolution, it’s worth reading the Bush Declaration if you’d like to know more about Maryland’s specific role in the revolution. A fairly short document, the Bush Declaration reads:

“We, the Committee of Harford County, having most Seriously and maturely Considered the Resolves and Association of the Continental Congress, and the Resolves of the Provincial Convention, do most heartily approve of the same, and as we Esteem ourselves in a more particular manner intrusted by our Constituents to see them carried into Execution, we do most solemnly pledge ourselves to each other, and to our country, and engage ourselves by every tie held sacred among mankind, to perform the same at the risque of our lives and fortunes.”

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