When Does "1776" (1969) Take Place?
"1776" is a historical fiction stage musical written by Peter Stone with Sherman Edwards and released March 16th, 1969.
It takes place in the year:
We know this because (besides the year merely being in the title) it depicts proceedings during the later months of the First Session of the famous American Second Continental Congress, which lasted from May 10th, 1775 AD to December 12th, 1776 AD.
1776 AD
We know this because (besides the year merely being in the title) it depicts proceedings during the later months of the First Session of the famous American Second Continental Congress, which lasted from May 10th, 1775 AD to December 12th, 1776 AD.
At the start of the second song (early in act 1), “Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve”, the real-world delegate from Massachusetts John Adams sings “for one solid year / they have been sitting here! / A whole year!” The American Second Continental Congress opened in May of 1775 AD. So it's at least May of 1776 AD.
1775 + 1 = 1776.
In the fifth song, "But, Mr. Adams", an argument is heard between the members of the real-world Committee of Five, a small group of five pro-independence members officially tasked with writing a declaration of a list of reasons to separate from the sovereignty of Great Britain under King George III. This group only existed as a united body from June 11th, 1776 AD to July 5th, 1776 AD, their document was brought to the full Congress on June 28th, and the tenth song, "The Egg", (usually performed at the start of act 2) is a tentative celebration of this step. So the audience is brought to June.
In the real world, there was debate on July 3rd about an anti-slavery section in the document the Committee of Five produced. The eleventh song of the play, "Molasses to Rum", is a reminder from the real-world representative from South Carolina, Edward Rutledge to the Northern colonies' delegates that their homes are equal beneficiaries of the "triangle trade", which includes slavery.
Finally, the show ends with the famous real-world ratifying and signing of the United States of America (then the United Colonies) Declaration of Independence on the late morning of July 4th during the final song, "Finale". The narrative combines this moment with the real-world earlier vote on the key part of the Lee Resolution for Independence on July 2nd, which marked the group's decision to declare the United Colonies a new nation. It also should be noted that scholars now believe, while the ratification of the Declaration happened on July 4th, the full signing by all participants present actually occurred with a fresh copy on August 2nd. Essentially, these three dates' events are all condensed to July 4th, 1776 AD for a dramatic conclusion.
There was a Broadway revival in 1997, and then another in 2022.
It was adapted to film in 1972.
