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On this day, July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed the Lee Resolution.
Lee Resolution
The Lee Resolution, also known as "The Resolution for Independence", was the formal assertion passed by the Second Continental Congress on July 2, 1776, resolving that the Thirteen Colonies (then referred to as the United Colonies) were "free and independent States" and separate from the British Empire. This created what became the United States. News of the act was published that evening in The Pennsylvania Evening Post and the following day in The Pennsylvania Gazette. The Declaration of Independence, which officially announced and explained the case for independence, was approved two days later, on July 4, 1776.
"The Resolution for Independence agreed to July 2, 1776" in the handwriting of Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress. Thomson's marks at the bottom right indicate the 12 colonies that voted for independence, while the Province of New York abstained.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Charles_Willson_Peale_-_Richard_Henry_Lee_-_NPG.74.5_-_National_Portrait_Gallery_(cropped).jpg/500px-Charles_Willson_Peale_-_Richard_Henry_Lee_-_NPG.74.5_-_National_Portrait_Gallery_(cropped).jpg
Richard Henry Lee proposed the resolution on June 7, 1776.
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Approval and declaration
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After passing the resolution of independence on July 2, Congress turned its attention to the text of the declaration. Over several days of debate, Congress made a number of alterations to the text, including adding the wording of Lee's resolution of independence to the conclusion. The final text of the declaration was approved by Congress on July 4 and sent off to be printed.
John Adams wrote his wife Abigail on July 3 about the resolution of independence:
Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated Independence Day on July 4, the date when the Declaration of Independence was approved, rather than on July 2, the date when the resolution of independence was adopted.
The two latter parts of the Lee Resolution were not passed until months later. The second part regarding the formation of foreign alliances was approved in September 1776, and the third part regarding a plan of confederation was approved in November 1777 and finally ratified in 1781.
{snip}
The Lee Resolution, also known as "The Resolution for Independence", was the formal assertion passed by the Second Continental Congress on July 2, 1776, resolving that the Thirteen Colonies (then referred to as the United Colonies) were "free and independent States" and separate from the British Empire. This created what became the United States. News of the act was published that evening in The Pennsylvania Evening Post and the following day in The Pennsylvania Gazette. The Declaration of Independence, which officially announced and explained the case for independence, was approved two days later, on July 4, 1776.
"The Resolution for Independence agreed to July 2, 1776" in the handwriting of Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress. Thomson's marks at the bottom right indicate the 12 colonies that voted for independence, while the Province of New York abstained.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Charles_Willson_Peale_-_Richard_Henry_Lee_-_NPG.74.5_-_National_Portrait_Gallery_(cropped).jpg/500px-Charles_Willson_Peale_-_Richard_Henry_Lee_-_NPG.74.5_-_National_Portrait_Gallery_(cropped).jpg
Richard Henry Lee proposed the resolution on June 7, 1776.
{snip}
Approval and declaration
{snip}
After passing the resolution of independence on July 2, Congress turned its attention to the text of the declaration. Over several days of debate, Congress made a number of alterations to the text, including adding the wording of Lee's resolution of independence to the conclusion. The final text of the declaration was approved by Congress on July 4 and sent off to be printed.
John Adams wrote his wife Abigail on July 3 about the resolution of independence:
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.
Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated Independence Day on July 4, the date when the Declaration of Independence was approved, rather than on July 2, the date when the resolution of independence was adopted.
The two latter parts of the Lee Resolution were not passed until months later. The second part regarding the formation of foreign alliances was approved in September 1776, and the third part regarding a plan of confederation was approved in November 1777 and finally ratified in 1781.
{snip}