Patriotic thoughts for June and July (excerpt from the National Patriotic Instructor’s Instruction)…
Independence Day – July 4 First observed on July 4, 1777
July 4, 1776 is the momentous American date when John Hancock, the President of the Continental
Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. This declaration of sovereignty was a result of many preceding incidences including the Boston Massacre, Townshend Acts, Boston Tea Party, and Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill between the British and the independent minded Americans.
In the beginning of 1776, Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet entitled Common Sense encouraging the
independence movement.
On April 12, North Carolina became the first state to instruct its delegates to
move towards independence. Other colonies followed suit helped by the strong encouragement of
patriots like James Madison and Patrick Henry. In June, Richard Lee of Virginia offered a resolution to
dissolve the political connection with Great Britain but it faced opposition still. Nevertheless, the
Continental Congress selected a committee to draft a declaration of independence to support Lee’s
resolution. The committee consisted of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert
Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Jefferson was appointed as author.
When the Continental Congress resumed sessions on July 1st, the Declaration of Independence was
complete and a test vote was taken. Nine colonies were in favor of the resolution. On July 2, the official
Independence vote was taken and twelve colonies supported the notion with New York abstaining. The
Declaration of Independence, as written by Jefferson, was approved by Congress on July 4th, 1777. On
that same day, it was printed and signed by John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress,
and Charles Thomson, secretary. A few days later, New York cast it’s vote in favor of the resolution thus making the independence movement unanimous among the thirteen colonies.
On August 2, the Declaration of Independence was signed by Congress with all but seven delegates
signing the document. The remaining seven delegates did eventually sign the document as well.
I hope everyone has a blessed and Patriotic Weekend!