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→Continental Congress: Destruction of parts of Princeton (University)
His involvement in politics began during his time serving as president of Princeton, where he wrote numerous articles criticizing British rule in America. On June 22, 1776, after taking part as a member of the Provincial congress in the overthrow of the authority of the royal governor, William Franklin, Witherspoon was elected to represent [[New Jersey]] in the [[Second Continental Congress]].<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/witherspoon.htm</ref>
His involvement in politics began during his time serving as president of Princeton, where he wrote numerous articles criticizing British rule in America. On June 22, 1776, after taking part as a member of the Provincial congress in the overthrow of the authority of the royal governor, William Franklin, Witherspoon was elected to represent [[New Jersey]] in the [[Second Continental Congress]].<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/witherspoon.htm</ref>
He was a strong advocate of the [[Declaration of Independence]] and grew impatient as congress members debated the merits of the document. Witherspoon voted affirmative for independence on July 2, 1776. Five months later the British burned his library to the ground.
He was a strong advocate of the [[Declaration of Independence]] and grew impatient as congress members debated the merits of the document. Witherspoon voted affirmative for independence on July 2, 1776. During the British occupation, they took over large parts of New Jersey, including Princeton. During this time, they deliberately vandalized buildings at the college and burned its library to the ground.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xaMwDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA290 John Witherspoon's American Revolution]</ref> During the waning hours of the [[Battle of Princeton]], British forces barricaded themselves in Nassau Hall. It took Witherspoon years to rebuild the college after the battles ended.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Presbyterians/BQpN_G2h4TEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA213 The Presbyterians]</ref>
==Later life==
==Later life==