Independence Day

I was just watching a video of a guy asking American's what Independence day means. Independence from what? When did it happen? Who are our founding fathers? And I was literally appalled. Apparently there are many American's that do not know what Independence day means. So although this Blog is typically dedicated to real estate, as this is what I do for a living, I thought I would make today's blog about the history of Independence Day.

Independence day was July 4th 1776. On that day we declared our independence from England. This was when we were the original 13 colonies. "Conflict between the colonies and England was already a year old when the colonies convened a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776. In a June 7 session in the Pennsylvania State House (later 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 were the impetus for drafting the Declaration of Independence. 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. Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, two -- Pennsylvania and South Carolina -- voted No, Delaware was undecided and New York abstained. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It is said that John Hancock's signed his name "with a great flourish" so England's "King George can read that without spectacles!"

Our original founding fathers were George Washington, Jame Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin.

I hope everyone enjoys their 4th of July celebration and remember to celebrate the Independence we gained over 200 years ago from England. For it is that Independence that the July 4th celebration is all about!