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 them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
Did you know…..
• The Continental Congress declared the colonies’ independence from Great Britain on July 2 of 1776, not July 4th. In fact, in a letter to wife Abigail, John Adams wrote that July 2 would be the date future Americans celebrated independence.
• Delegates to the Continental Congress did not sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776. Most signed the Declaration in August after returning to Philadelphia from their various states where they had gone to win approval for the signing the Declaration.
• July 4th 1776 was actually the day that the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence and sent the document to the printer.
• Celebration of July 4th began immediately the following year at a dinner for the Continental Congress that included 13-gun salutes and fireworks.
• Between April and July 1776 more than 90 colonies, towns, and small groups had issued separate declarations of independence from Great Britain.
• Thomas Jefferson, the main author of the Declaration was assisted by the Committee of Five; John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman.
• In the initial voting that took place July1, Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted against Independence. New York abstained (lack of permission), the Delaware delegation was split and therefore unable to vote. The remaining nine colonies all voted in favor of independence. South Carolina, Delaware, and Pennsylvania reversed their votes the next day. The New York Delegation voted in favor a week later after receiving permission.
• The Declaration was largely ignored after the American Revolution. As a result, original copies are extremely rare.
• The original Declaration is now exhibited in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in Washington, DC.
• According to the web site, ushistory.org, the writing on the back says only, “Original Declaration of Independence / dated 4th July 1776.”
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.
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Just for fun, a year ago I wrote the declaration in more modern terms. It’s not as pretty, of course, but it’s less difficult for the average reader.
http://weeklyrob.com/?p=367