Introduction: Prior to the Revolutionary War, there existed a Congress of the colonies. On July 6th, 1775, the second of these congresses formally established that they had no intention of separating from the English. A second resolution to this effect was adopted on January 6th, 1776. Three days later, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” was distributed, arguing that separation was inevitable and that the sooner it was accomplished, the better off would be the fate of the states.
So controversial was this notion and so divisive the issue, that several colonies instructed their delegates to oppose the notion at all costs. However, as the debate raged on, the English continued their oppression of the settlers and the frustration of their representation and their rights. Keep in mind, that these colonists were British citizens with the rights granted by the Magna Charta and the common law.
On June 7th, Richard Lee, a Congressional delegate from Virginia, made a motion to write a “Declaration of Independence”. On the 10th of June, Thomas Jefferson was selected to compose the document for a committee of five and on the 28th it was presented to the Congress. The motion to reconsider the declaration was taken up on the 1st of July, passing on the second. The declaration was debated on the 3rd, and passed as amended on the 4th. It became unanimous on the 15th and on the 19th, Congress directed the document to be written upon parchment. The formal signing was on the 2nd of Aug, with 53 members present. The last of the 56 signed the declaration on the 4th of November.
Declaration Of Independence
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
