Declaration of Independence

         It all started with the revolutionary war of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. The Second Continental Congress gathered to discuss about their independence. They did not want to be part of theBritish Empire, but instead fight for their freedom. This was on May  of that same year. Tension in America grew stronger between colonists who wanted to be independent and Loyalists who remain loyal to the crown. On June 11,1776 almost one year after, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to write the Declaration of Independence from British rule. This committee was called the Committee of Five since five people were part of it. This five men were  Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman.  The committee decided Thomas Jefferson should write the first draft. Jefferson wrote it and the committee declared it was almost perfect. This document was presented to the Congress after few corrections were made on June 28,1776.  After a few more corrections, Jefferson's work was approved.

Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson

       Af first not everyone agreed on declaring independence. Some thought that they should wait until the colonies had stronger alliances with other countries. When voting, on the first round South Carolina and Pennsylvania voted against while New York and Delaware did not vote. The Congress wanted  for the vote to be unanimous, and since it didn't happen they continue to discussing it. The next day, South Carolina and Pennsylvania reversed their votes and said yes. Delaware also decided to vote yes. This meant that the agreement  to declare independence, passed with 1 abstention from New York, who chose not to vote and 12 votes that said yes.

       On July 4, 1776 the Congress decided to adopt the final version of the Declaration of Independence.  56 members of the Congress signed it. John Hancock was the first one with a signature of almost 5 inches long. After the document was signed, they sent it to a printer to make more copies. This copies were later on send to all the colonies. The Declaration of Independence was published on newspapers or read aloud. Also a copy was sent to the British government.



Quote from the Declaration of Independence
 "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."