Is Independence Day really July 2? Officially, the Continental Congress declared its freedom from Britain on July 2, 1776, when it approved a resolution and delegates from New York were permitted to make it a unanimous vote. Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, sent a copy for Franklin's input before drafting the final version. Lawmakers approved and adopted the document on July 4, 1776. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, was first to sign the copy of the Declaration of Independence known as the Dunlap Broadside. IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political The Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence—written largely by Jefferson—in Philadelphia on July 4, a date now celebrated as the birth of American independence. On July 4, 1776, after two days of debate and editing, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence submitted by the Committee of Five. The Declaration of Independence is made up of three major parts: the preamble; the body, and the conclusion. The Declaration of Independence states three basic ideas: (1) God made all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; (2) the main business of government is to protect these rights; (3) if a government tries to withhold these rights, the people are free to revolt and to set up a new government. We’ve compiled 41 facts about the Declaration of Independence that will engage your students in the groundbreaking nature of this fascinating aspect of our nation’s history. You might even learn something new yourself; let’s dive in! 1. The Date of Adoption. The introductory sentence states the Declaration’s main purpose, to explain the colonists’ right to revolution. In other words, “to declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” Congress had to prove the legitimacy of its cause. It had just defied the most powerful nation on Earth. The purpose of the Declaration of the Independence was so that the colonies could claim to the king that they were the free United States of America. This document is still significant today because it marked the first time we claimed independence from the king and we still use this document as a reference for many things today. Updated 7/3/21. Here is a simplified list of the colonists’ complaints about the King and Parliament as translated from the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration's most famous sentence reads: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." A list of complaints by the colonists that were outlined in the Declaration of Independence. The list was approved by the Continental Congress. The Declaration of Independence on 4th of July. The foundation of 4th of July celebrations lies in one of history’s most important documents. The Declaration of Independence didn’t just announce America’s break from Britain—it established principles that would influence democratic movements worldwide. The Declaration of Independence was hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the A 5-dollar banknote issued by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 An 1876 Currier and Ives portrait of George Washington being appointed commanding general of the Continental Army John Trumbull's 1819 painting, Declaration of Independence, depicting the Committee of Five presenting the Declaration of Independence to Congress On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. The document announced the separation of the 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. The vote actually took place on July 2 and was approved by 12 colonies (with New York abstaining). The Declaration of Independence states that all people are created equal and have “certain unalienable rights.” These are rights that no government can change or take away. The committee presented the final draft before Congress on June 28, 1776, and Congress adopted the final text of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. The British Government did its best to dismiss the Declaration as a trivial document issued by disgruntled colonists. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle The Declaration of Independence, passed on July 4, 1776, reflected widespread dissatisfaction in the 13 North American colonies with increased British control. Colonists especially opposed a series of unpopular laws and taxes enacted by Britain beginning in 1764, including the Sugar Act , the Stamp Act , and the so-called Intolerable Acts .
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