The American colonies' Continental Army led by General George Washington started fighting the British in April 1775 because of British taxation and limitation on the American Thirteen Colonies. In June of 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a "Committee of Five" to write the Declaration of Independence: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was 33 years old at the time and the best writer of the five, so John Adams gave him the task of writing the initial draft of the declaration. Jefferson's draft was brought before the committee, debated, and revised. The final version of the declaration contains 1,328 words.
On July 2, 1776 the Second Continental Congress unanimously voted to approve a resolution for independence that was proposed by Richard Lee of Virginia in June. On the night of July 2nd, the Congress started printing copies of the declaration, and its distribution started across the colonies on July 4th. The first 4th of July celebration actually occurred on July 8th, 1776. The Liberty Bell was rang on that day in Philadelphia to honor the first public reading of the declaration. The people that heard the declaration reacted with gunfire, bonfires, and fireworks. This custom was borrowed from England where the subjects celebrated the king's birthday with fireworks.
Fifty-six men came forward to sign the Declaration of Independence parchment. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors. Each of those men knew the penalty for high treason to England's Crown. ``We must all hang together,'' Benjamin Franklin said, ``or, assuredly, we will all hang separately.'' And John Hancock wrote his signature in large script on the Declaration of Independence, so King George could see it without his spectacles. They were brave men, and they remained loyal through all the bloodshed of the War of Independence. Their courage created a nation built on a universal claim that every man, woman, and child had a right to a future of freedom. Freedom is a two-edged sword - it's the ability to choose, but the responsibility to choose well.
The Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776, but didn't approve the declaration until July 4, 1776. There were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence; the oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, 70; and the youngest was South Carolina's Edward Rutledge, 26. 13 of the signers were 35 or younger, and seven were 60 or older. One signer later recanted while being held prisoner by the British, Richard Stockton of New Jersey. Eight of the signers were born in Britain or Ireland. The Declaration of Independence was signed more than two and a half years after the Boston Tea Party. The signers of the Declaration were grouped by the States they were from (see below), except for John Hancock who was the President of the Congress.
Fifty-six men came forward to sign the Declaration of Independence parchment. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors. Each of those men knew the penalty for high treason to England's Crown. ``We must all hang together,'' Benjamin Franklin said, ``or, assuredly, we will all hang separately.'' And John Hancock wrote his signature in large script on the Declaration of Independence, so King George could see it without his spectacles. They were brave men, and they remained loyal through all the bloodshed of the War of Independence. Their courage created a nation built on a universal claim that every man, woman, and child had a right to a future of freedom. Freedom is a two-edged sword - it's the ability to choose, but the responsibility to choose well.
The Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776, but didn't approve the declaration until July 4, 1776. There were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence; the oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, 70; and the youngest was South Carolina's Edward Rutledge, 26. 13 of the signers were 35 or younger, and seven were 60 or older. One signer later recanted while being held prisoner by the British, Richard Stockton of New Jersey. Eight of the signers were born in Britain or Ireland. The Declaration of Independence was signed more than two and a half years after the Boston Tea Party. The signers of the Declaration were grouped by the States they were from (see below), except for John Hancock who was the President of the Congress.
In the American colonies, they were actually celebrating the King George's funeral. King's George statue in New York City was pulled down, cut up, and the lead was smelted into musket balls that were used to fight the Revolutionary War. A parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776 by 56 people. John Hancock, the President of Congress, was the first to put his signature on the document. The signers of the declaration were considered traitors and were persecuted.
Paul Revere did not ride alone to warn fellow patriots that British troops were approaching Lexington on the night of April 18, 1775. William Dawes and Samuel Prescott rode along beside him and then 40 other riders joined the three patriots on their historic mission. Thousands of women fought for the Revolutionary cause and traveled with the Continental Army working as laundresses, cooks, nurses, and even spies or couriers. 5,000 African Americans fought on the Patriots' side. Many of the Native Americans and Iroquois peoples fought alongside the colonists.
Paul Revere did not ride alone to warn fellow patriots that British troops were approaching Lexington on the night of April 18, 1775. William Dawes and Samuel Prescott rode along beside him and then 40 other riders joined the three patriots on their historic mission. Thousands of women fought for the Revolutionary cause and traveled with the Continental Army working as laundresses, cooks, nurses, and even spies or couriers. 5,000 African Americans fought on the Patriots' side. Many of the Native Americans and Iroquois peoples fought alongside the colonists.
By coincidence, on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826, two of the document's authors, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, died. President James Monroe also died on July 4th in 1831. In 1781, Massachusetts became the first state to make July 4th a state holiday. Bristol, Rhode Island is home to the oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration dating back to 1785. Independence Day festivities became more widespread in the US after the War of 1812. In 1870, Independence Day became a recognized holiday. But in 1941, Congress voted to make Independence Day a paid Federal legal holiday.
Patriotism - devoted love and support to one's country, concern for its defense, and the willingness to sacrifice for its freedom. To unselfishly choose to serve your country in a way that doesn't promise any great return to you for having made that choice.
