Today marks an important national holiday in the United States of America (USA).
Independence Day, also known as the Fourth (4th) of July or July 4th, has been celebrated as the birth of American independence.
The historic event goes back to July 4, 1776, where the 13 colonies claimed their independence from England and, as a result, America was born.
According to the website military. com, the conflict between the colonies and England was already a year old when the colonies convened a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776.
“In a June 7 session in the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall),” reported the website.
“Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented a resolution with the famous words: “Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
Military.com adds Lee’s words were the impetus for drafting a formal Declaration of Independence, although the resolution was not followed up on immediately.
“On June 11, consideration of the resolution was postponed by a vote of seven colonies to five, with New York abstaining,” military.com reports.
“However, a committee of five was appointed to draft a statement presenting the colonies’ case for independence to the world.
Members of the committee included John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. The task of drafting the actual document fell on Jefferson.”
The website adds that on July 1, 1776, the Continental Congress reconvened, and on the following day, the Lee Resolution for independence was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies, New York not voting.
