Happy Independence Day!

[RockmartDawg]

We celebrate, not the creation of the United States, singular, but the independence of the 13 sovereign states, who proclaimed their separation from the British crown, collectively, through the document, our Declaration Of Independence. It was written prior to July 4, 1776, and even signed afterward. But it was to be effective on that date.

Interestingly, individual colonies/states were voting on declarations of independence prior to this date.

The war had already broken out in 1775. Fighting had been ongoing since the first shots were fired at Lexington, on April 19, 1775. It was a full year later that formal written declarations of independence began to be issued. It was significant, though, that those 13 colonies who were joined in opposition to the British crown, had representatives meet at the Pennsylvania Statehouse, in Philadelphia. Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia (Robert E. Lee's grandfather's brother) first proposed the declaration of independence on June 7, 1776. The motion was so fiercely debated that Congress decided to postpone further discussion of Lee's motion for three weeks. In the meantime, a committee was appointed to draft a Declaration of Independence, in the event that Lee's motion passed. The committee was made up of five men; Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.

The declaration was primarily written by Jefferson, between June 11 and June 28, 1776. Jefferson's original draft was edited and revised by the other men on the committee (Jefferson and Adams had fierce debates, while the elder Franklin provided much needed temperament and wise counsel). The final version of the Declaration was finally put before Congress on July 1, 1776.

I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend anyone to go visit Philadelphia. It is a moving experience that really brings to life the history of this place we all call home.

Here are some great reads on the subject.

American Revolutionary War

Declaration Of Independence

Independence Hall, originally the Pennsylvania State House.




The room inside Independence Hall where the Declaration Of Independence was introduced by Richard Henry Lee, and was debated and signed.

[Rogasingingdawg]

Happy Independence Day all y'all DAWGS!