Happy Independence Day! As we think about the Semiquincentennial (say that three times fast) of The United States what comes to mind? If you say fireworks, hotdogs and parades, you're not alone.
Why do we celebrate it on the fourth of July?
In a letter to his wife, Abigail Adams, John Adams declared there would be "Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations."
He added that, "The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America." Letters from John Adams to Abigail Adams.
Did you catch that? Yes, he said, the second day of July, not the fourth. Why is that? July second is the day the Continental Congress signed the document, but July fourth is the day it was ratified and declared official. What do you think could have happened had the colonies declared independence sooner? What about later? Clink on the blue link about to read more of Adam's letters and opinions on the matter.
Who wrote it and why?
By 1776, the people had had enough. On June 11th, 1776, the Virginia Convention in Williamsburg, Virginia, voted to have a declaration against Great Britain drafted and sent to the king. Richard Henry Lee proposed it to the Second Continental Congress, who then agreed and assigned five men to form a committee: John Adams, from Massachusetts, Thomas Jefferson from Virginia, Roger Sherman from Connecticut, Robert Livingston from New York, and Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania. Jefferson was the predominant author, spending hours painstakingly writing and editing the draft, which Franklin and Adams meticulously edited. Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence.
How long did it take to draft?
Jefferson rented rooms from the Graff family in Philadelphia, giving himself privacy and time to write. Within seventeen days he had laid out twenty-seven grievances against the King and stated reasons for the colonies to separate themselves. The Declaration House Through Time.
Can you imagine the relentless pressure, thought provoking questions and prayers that went into writing such an important document?
The impact of the Declaration of Independence on the world.
The Declaration of Independence had a major effect not only on American soil but across the globe. David Armitage, from Harvard University, stated, "More than half of the 192 countries now represented at the United Nations have a founding document that can be called a declaration of independence." Global Influence of the US Declaration of Independence.
Independence Day today.
The next time you get ready for your local Fourth of July parade, maybe pause and think, why are we commemorating that day and what does the Declaration of Independence mean for me? What is your favorite way to celebrate Independence Day?
Happy Reading!
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