July 4th is Independence Day, which to us here in America is a day of having fun with family and friends. Although, there is more to the history of Independence Day than just festivities. While we may be enjoying barbecues, fireworks, or other get-togethers with the ones we love, this is also a very important day in a American History. Today, we wanted to talk about the History of Independence Day and what it means to us here at Paradiso Insurance.
History of Independence Day
Back on July 4, 1776, the thirteen original American colonies came together to claim their independence from England, which coined this holiday as “Independence Day,” a day of celebrating freedom. Each year to this day, Americans around the country celebrate this historic event. In a June 7 session in Pennsylvania State House (which would later be referred to as the Independence Hall, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented a resolution with the famous words: “Resolved: 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, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
Lee’s words influenced the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, even though the resolution was not followed up on immediately. Essentially, on June 11, 1776, the resolution consideration was postponed by a vote on behalf of seven of the original colonies. Shortly thereafter, the task of drafting the actual document fell on the shoulders of Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.
Military.com tells us that “On July 1, 1776, the Continental Congress reconvened, and on the following day, the Lee Resolution for independence was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies, New York not voting. Discussions of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence resulted in some minor changes, but the spirit of the document was unchanged. The process of revision continued through all of July 3 and into the late afternoon of July 4, when the Declaration was officially adopted.”
To this day, the history of Independence Day is remembered all around America. How does your family remember the history of Independence Day while you celebrate the Fourth of July? If you’re looking by nearby events here in Connecticut, click below to learn more.
