07/04/2022
In 1775, during the Revolutionary War, very few colonists wanted complete independence from Great Britain. By 1776, hostility against Great Britain increased, and radical, revolutionary notions were starting to gain traction. On June 7, 1776, the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, and Richard Henry Lee, delegate from Virginia, ushered in a motion, calling for the independence of the colonies. Debate spurred and Congress postponed the vote. A committee—Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston—drafted a statement justifying independence from Great Britain. In a near unanimous vote, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence on July 2, 1776. It was on July 4, 1776 when the Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence, which stated the thirteen colonies, in the midst of battle with Great Britain, would be regarded as independent sovereign states, free from British sovereignty; this marked the beginning of the formation of the United States of America. Happy birthday, USA! 🇺🇸 🎇
