While Congress was voting on approving the Declaration of Independence, General George Washington was negotiating with Britain. Britain, however, would not acknowledge George Washington’s position or the States’ declaration of independence from them. On July 18, 1776, Congress found out that their General had refused to accept negotiations with Britain, and they were glad. They said that he had acted “with a dignity becoming his station,” and they also said that all American commanders should receive only letters addressed to them “in the characters they respectively sustain.”
Britain still would not acknowledge that George Washington was the General of the States’ army, so he would not accept the peace talks. He led his army in a battle against Britain, and they fought until they won complete independence from Britain.
