After many failed diplomatic efforts and after nearly a year of fighting our forefathers, duly appointed representatives of their respective colonies, took to the consideration of independence. The ideas and beliefs captured in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense having earlier in 1776 laid out a case for independence.
In June of 1776 the second Continental Congress, acting on a measure introduced, appointed a committee of five individuals to draft a statement outlining the case for freedom. Their efforts, with some minor alterations, were signed on July 4th, 1776 and became an American people’s Declaration of Independence from the British Crown.
In doing so they started one of human histories grandest experiments of governance. One of self-determination, of a mutual governance by the people and for the people. Today, two-hundred and fifty years later we mark the anniversary of their effort, of their sacrifices, and our own commitment to these principles. I encourage you to read the words which captured their hearts and minds enough to pledge their “Lives… Fortunes… and sacred Honor” towards, a United States of America.
As our forefathers would certainly have, I encourage you to read these historic documents for yourself. To aid your effort I am providing the following links to these remarkable documents.
The Declaration of Independence
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
