Follow up to this post and part of a series by The Free Press (image)
It was tough decision for all thirteen colonies to defy Britain, at that time the most powerful country in the world. Even though British offenses had multiplied for decades, they were not united around independence easily or suddenly.
Military clashes started in spring of 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence. By May of 1776, the Continental Congress approved a statement written by John Adams which called for "total suppression" of the authority of the British king, a strong statement but not official independence.
In June of 1776, a Virginia delegate, Richard Henry Lee, forced the issue by proposing a resolution to Congress: "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown . . ." (Sound familiar?) That's pretty clear, but not all of them were there yet.
So they debated the heavy decision and delayed it until July 1. Meanwhile, a committee of five (including Thomas Jefferson) put together an official statement, which actually passed Congress on July 2.
from The Free Press
(cont'd tomorrow)
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