The Revolution In America in 1776 Opened An Asylum for Mankind  

[On the occasion of the 250th Anniversary of presentation of the Declaration of Independence to the second Continental Congress, WWFOR newsletter editor John M Repp considers our history. Have the ideals expressed in that document ever become policy and reality in the U.S.? Here is the start of the article followed by a link to a pdf version of the full article]

The Revolution In America in 1776 Opened An Asylum for Mankind and Started a Movement for Democracy by John M Repp

 “Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the globe…O! receive the fugitive, and prepare in time an asylum for mankind.” Thomas Paine, 1776

This is a quote from Common Sense, a 47 page pamphlet issued in January 1776. The phrase tells us that at that time many colonists in America saw the new world as a place where refugees and asylum-seekers from around the world were welcome, and where they could live in freedom.

Read the full illustrated article in pdf format at https://wwfor.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1776to2026AmericaStruggles.pdf