One cool, bright, sunny morning in Philadelphia, history was made. This was the day Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Following is a quick overview of the timeline from ushistory.org that brought us to Independence Day, July 4th, 1776.
June 11
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston appointed to committee to draft a proposed Declaration of Independence.
June 12-27
Jefferson drafts a declaration. The committee reviews Jefferson’s original draft. Today, these important documents can be found in the Library of Congress.
June 28
Declaration of Independence is read and presented in Congress.
July 1-4
Congress debates and revises the Declaration of Independence.
July 2
Congress declares independence as the British fleet and army arrive in NY.
July 4
Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. John Dunlap prints copies of the Declaration of Independence. These prints are now known as “Dunlap Broadsides.” Only 24 copies are known to exist. Two of these are in the Library of Congress, and one of those was George Washington’s personal copy.
Did you know?
John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Next year, why not Make a Real Memory on Memorial Day?