We are the people of the United States of America. We’ve come from every kindred, tribe, and nation to this nation—one nation under God. This is a great nation, and we are blessed to call America our home. I was thinking about this today and thought I’d write something to reflect the blessing of America’s Independence That’s right—just a word to reflect why we celebrate July 4th.
May God bless the celebration of America’s Independence Day.
America’s discontent with the British attempts at taxation began in the 1760s. Americans had rallied behind the now famous slogan, “Taxation without Representation.” During that decade of dissent, colonists demanded only that their “rights” as Englishmen be upheld by the British Parliament. In the beginning, they had no thoughts of drawing away from England by declaring national independence. That, however, changed after the meeting of the Second Continental Congress, which convened in Philadelphia in May of 1775.
With the continuing Redcoat advances and the oppressive laws of King George against the colonists, a pamphlet began to circulate in 1776 that rekindled the waning spirit of the patriots. Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense (1776), attacked the English monarchy and called for America’s independence. These words were fire.
On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia resolved before Congress that “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” A committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman was formed to draft a formal declaration of independence. The draft, almost wholly Jefferson’s work, passed on July 2, with 12 colonies voting in favor and New York temporarily abstaining. The ensuing debate made the most significant changes in omitting the clauses condemning the British people as well as their government, and, in deference to the Southern delegates, an article denouncing the slave trade.
In Europe, including Britain, the Declaration was greeted as inaugurating a new age of freedom and self-government. As a manifesto for revolution it yielded to the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, although its importance increased in the United States. After the federal union was organized in 1789, it came to be considered as a statement of basic political principles, not just of independence. And the rest is American history.
The Declaration of Independence is on display for the public in the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. Stop by sometime and view it. It is a remarkable document. Pastor T.
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