The 4th of July
As we are in the summer months and will soon be celebrating the 4th of July, I always wondered what really happened in 1776 on the 4th of July. On July 1 the Continental Congress met and on July 2, the Lee Resolution was adopted with 12 of the 13 colonies voting yes, with New York voting no. Once approved Thomas Jefferson was tasked with writing the Declaration of Independence and used Virginia’s declarations as the foundation for the Declaration of Independence. Multiple rewrites and revisions along with discussions occurred on July 3 and into the morning hours of July 4 where finally on the afternoon of July 4, it was officially adopted. Of the thirteen colonies, nine voted to adopt. Two voted no, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Delaware was undecided and New York abstained. By August 2nd, all the delegates signed the Declaration of Independence.
Perhaps I was taught during history class at a much younger age that not all thirteen colonies were in favor of independence. We grew up thinking that our founding fathers were eager independent leaders for freedom and our thirteen colonies were all in favor. Like anything in this great country of ours, major decisions are made after disagreements are heard and votes are taken. Once decided the opposition supports and moves forward. Unfortunately, in today’s world that is not always the case and all of us need a refresher in how we gained our independence from England.
As we celebrate the 4th of July, most of us will celebrate with family and friends, enjoy cookouts, picnics, and fireworks. We will overeat, drink, and have 2 days off from work where we will never think about the freedom we have and those that we have lost over the past 200+ years. We will not think about the courage our founding fathers had and for all of those that sacrificed their lives so we could live and thrive in this great country.
On the 4th, I am going to try and remember those before us, not complain about the crowds and the heat, and reflect on the beginning of the second paragraph in the Declaration of Independence, (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) and be grateful for being an American and a believer in God. Happy 4th everyone.