Delaware's Bold First Step: Separation Day

Delaware’s pre-Revolutionary status was complicated. Though legally under the proprietorship of Pennsylvania, Delaware operated with its own assembly and had long desired independence from both Pennsylvania and Britain. The escalating tension of 1776 brought that desire to the forefront. When the Continental Congress urged colonies to establish their own governments, Delaware seized the opportunity.

Three weeks before July 4, 1776, Delaware declared its separation from both the British Crown and Pennsylvania’s proprietary government, forming a distinct and autonomous state. On June 15, 1776, the Delaware Assembly passed the Act of Separation, a bold assertion of independence weeks before the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Delaware’s commitment to liberty was further solidified when its delegates—Caesar Rodney, Thomas McKean, and George Read—signed the Declaration, helping to shape the nation’s future. This moment marked Delaware’s emergence as a free and self-governing state.

Each year, the state commemorates this pivotal step in its history with Separation Day, held on the second Saturday in June in the historic town of New Castle, Delaware’s colonial capital. The celebration honors Delaware’s trailblazing role in the American Revolution with community events, music, reenactments, and fireworks that bring the past to life in a setting steeped in colonial charm. The festival attracts residents and history buffs alike, offering a vivid way to experience the revolutionary spirit of 1776 in one of America’s oldest towns.

Scenes from Separation Day