Skip to main content

Delaware | Perspective

Politicians

Delaware's politicians served without salary during the Revolutionary period—compensated only for travel and expenses—while building a new state and managing an active war. Its three delegates to the Continental Congress were Caesar Rodney, George Read, and Thomas McKean. All three were also actively engaged in state governance. John Dickinson, who had argued that independence was premature, nevertheless donned a uniform when the Declaration was adopted and later served as president of Delaware in 1781 without pay. In 1782 he produced a militia training manual entirely at his own expense—five hundred copies for officers—articulating a vision of citizen-soldiers who fought not for conquest but for the protection of the innocent.


Interviewees
  • Charles Fithian
    • Delaware Archeologist, Delaware Historical Society
  • Joseph Sullivan
    • Welcome Center Supervisor, Delaware Public Archives

More politicians’ perspectives

View details
  • Connecticut

    Politicians

    6:28 Just watched
  • Georgia

    Politicians

    2:11 Just watched
  • Maryland

    Politicians

    1:41 Just watched
  • Massachusetts

    Politicians

    4:26 Just watched
  • New Hampshire

    Politicians

    5:27 Just watched
  • New Jersey

    Politicians

    12:27 Just watched
  • New York

    Politicians

    2:51 Just watched
  • North Carolina

    Politicians

    4:36 Just watched
  • Pennsylvania

    Politicians

    3:02 Just watched
  • Rhode Island

    Politicians

    4:15 Just watched
  • South Carolina

    Politicians

    3:52 Just watched
  • Virginia

    Politicians

    7:01 Just watched

More from Delaware

View details
  • Delaware

    Context

    Considering Independence — Colonial Era

    6:06 Just watched
  • Delaware

    Declaration

    Enacting Independence — 1776

    19:52 Just watched
  • Delaware

    Memory

    Remembering Independence — 1777 to Present

    9:45 Just watched
  • Delaware

    African Americans

    5:52 Just watched
  • Delaware

    Loyalists

    7:56 Just watched
  • Delaware

    Native Americans

    3:11 Just watched
  • Delaware

    Women

    6:16 Just watched
0

States of Independence

Produced in partnership with New American History and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

© 2026. All Rights Reserved.

  • Videos

    Explore perspectives on the Revolution from historical experts in each of the original thirteen states.

  • Learning Resources

    Browse free learning resources that help you adapt this project to your classroom.


  • About the Project
  • Key Principles

Bookmarks

    No bookmarks yet. Bookmark a video to save it here.