Happy Independence day!
 

Happy Independence Day :up:

Today 2 July, in 1776, the Continental Congress voted and approved the Lee Resolution.

"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.

That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation."

It was passed 12-0 with one abstaining. New York finally voted in favour on 9 July 1776.

The evening of 2 July 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post published the statement: "This day the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States."

John Adams, in writing to his wife Abigail on 3 July 1776.

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

The Declaration of Independence was not what declared our independence (even back then congress had problems entitling stuff). It was the Lee Resolution. The Declaration of Independence was a document designed to rally support from the citizens on the decision Congress made on 2 July 1776.

What many people don't realize is that the intended audience of the Declaration of Independence was the American people.


So happy Independence Day! Let's cock a good natured snook to our British friends and allies. :rock:

Yes, happy Indepence Day! Go USA! :salute:


But I still love the British.

Ah the 4th of July, of course. Happy Independence Day from across the pond. :salute:

Happy Independence Day:woot::woot::woot:I just can't wait to start poopin in depends, what was the question again.

2 July actually. :)

Well, it's the third over here :03: But not quite the 4th indeed.. :oops:
So tell me, why is Independence Day celebrated on the 4th when the declaration was signed on the second?
Or wasn't your quote about the final Declaration of independence? (Just tryin to get a free history lesson here)

I was wondering whether Sailor Steve or Platapus would post first this year :DL

Happy Independence Day America

http://www.onlinedownloads.org/diary...ndence-day.jpg

Stay safe everyone. :woot:

Happy Independence day, Amerikans. :O:

And Happy Returns to both of you. :salute::woot::woot::salute:

The declaration of Independence was first signed on the 4th. However, congress voted for independence on 2 July.


Why is Independence Day celebrated on the 4th? Probably for the same reasons Christmas is celebrated on a day that Jesus was not born. :D

Jesus was born on American Independence Day? I knew it!

You need pictures
 

http://www.usrarecoininvestments.com...dependence.jpg
Congress voting on independence

http://chismetime.com/wp-content/upl...on-picture.jpg
''We expected that the notion will pass the voting, but never so unanimously'' T. Jefferson

http://mrsoskil.wikispaces.com/file/...3/burgoyne.jpg
''We were ovestreched fighting the damn froggies, and now the colonials are acting up. In the long run I doubt we can win this mess'' an un-named British general said in response to the colonial uprising


Happy independence Yenks :salute:

That's correct and his birthplace was the UK :DL

And Jesus spoke English. Its in the Bible. :yep::D

God is an Englishman. :yep:

In all seriousness, Happy Independence Day, hope you guys have a good one. :salute:

:hmmm: interesting, didn't know that the US declared its independence de facto on the 2nd. I guess I'll have to watch the John Adams miniseries again....
I wonder how many Americans know this fact.

Anyway: Happy Independence Day! :salute:

My mother moved to the US a while ago and this is her 1st independence day over there... she's told me that she's desperate to fly a Union Jack from her window as a "joke"... so if anyone around the Michigan area spots a Union Jack anywhere that's probably my mum - go easy on her! :yeah:

Happy independence day to all you lovely people over there :salute:

It was the Lee Resolution where congress voted 12-0-1 for independence. New York changed their abstention several days later.

As for Americans knowing this. Few do and fewer care. Most do not know that the DoI was not addressed to King George but to the citizens.

It is important to remember that there were several versions of the DoI.

If one wishes to be absolutely correct (and win almost all bar bets), the document voted on 4 July 1776 was actually "A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled". This is what historians consider the Fair Copy or final copy that was presented to congress.

On the night of 4 July, 200 copies of the "The unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America" were printed up by John Dunlap. These are called the Dunlap Broadsides. That version did not have any signatures. But did have John Hancock's (as President of the Congress) and Charles Townsend's (as Secretary of the Congress) name in type. One copy (some sources say two) was sent to England.

in January, 1777 Mary Goddard printed up the first version of the DoI with names but not the signatures. This version is called the Goddard Broadside. However, not all the names that eventually ended up signing the DoI were in place for this broadside.

It should be noted that the Dunlap and the Goddard broadsides were printed in type, not hand written.

On 19 July 1776, Timothy Matlak (sometimes misnamed Matlock) was commissioned to scribe the words of the DoI in script. This is called the Engrossed copy. John Hancock signed in the center and large, not because of any claim that King George would need glasses, but more on tradition. As President of the Congress, it was appropriate that his signature would be larger and centered.

Eventually, over several years, the 56 "original" signers of the DoI signed it. Some who voted for it never signed it and some who never voted for it signed it. Such is government.

In 1820, William Stone was commissioned to engrave the Engrossed copy. It took him three years to complete this process. These versions are called the Stone engravings and are the basis for any modern reproduction of the DoI.

It may come as a surprise that few Americans today know much about the DoI, but it shouldn't. The DoI was actually a relatively unimportant document for the first 20 years. Few Americans in the late 1770's and in the 1780's knew about it and less seemed to care. When the Congress was debating the Constitution, there is no record of the DoI being discussed or referenced.

What sparked the interest in the DoI in the late 1790's? Politics. Jefferson and Adams were engaged in a vicious political battle for the 1796 term. Both political parties used the DoI as a political tool to discredit the other.

If it were not for the political bickering of Jefferson and Adams, it is possible the DoI would have faded (literally) into obscurity.

Probably more than you ever wanted to know about the DoI.

But this is why I like to celebrate 2 July as our independence day. The Lee Resolution was a single act that happened on a single day. The "signing" of the "Declaration" was an activity that took place over five years. Thomas McKean of Delaware did not sign it until 1781!