INDEPENDENCE DAY 2015

 

“The Declaration of Independence *

We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.

But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776).

It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775).

And it wasn't the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn't happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776).

So what did happen on July 4, 1776?

The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They'd been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes.”

 
The American in me loves the history of why we celebrate the Fourth of July. (The writer in me loves that last line.)

                                 

cj sez:  The Lyrical Pens wish you a safe and wonderful Independence Day holiday.

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PS: Two more Independence Day Facts:

 John Hancock, the first signatory, was the only person to sign on July 4.

The Lee Resolution, also known as the resolution of independence, was first proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7, 1776. It is the earliest form and draft of the Declaration of Independence.

(*Source:  http://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/fourth-of-july/  )