The American Revolution and communication

On July 4, 1776, representatives from the thirteen American colonies signed the Declaration of Independence. This document said that the colonies were free from British rule and declared that they were now at war with Great Britain. But how did the King of England at the time - George III - find that out? After all, this was the 18th century, and there weren't telephones, televisions, or even telegraph lines. How people communicated during the American Revolution is a story of ingenuity, bravery, and a little luck. Communication was extremely important to the American leaders plotting the revolution. News about British actions against the colonists and other pieces of information had to be sent quickly and reliably across thousands of miles. But news travelled slowly in the 18th century. For example, most colonists in America did not know about the Declaration of Independence for many days. The document wasn't even read in public in Philadelphia until four days after it had been signed. And since it took six to eight weeks for a ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, King George III did not read the Declaration until two months after it had been written!