Okla-homey
7/2/2009, 05:50 AM
July 2, 1776: Congress votes for independence
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3686/decindependencehallew8.jpg
Independence Hall in Philadelphia where the votes were cast. It was very hot that summer. Over 90 degrees in the main room where they met.
On this day in 1776, the Second Continental Congress, assembled in Philadelphia, formally adopts Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence from Great Britain. The vote is unanimous, with only New York abstaining.
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3706/decrichardhenryleeuj2.jpg
Virginia lawyer Richard Henry Lee
The resolution had originally been presented to Congress on June 7, but it soon became clear that New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina were as yet unwilling to declare independence, though they would likely be ready to vote in favor of a break with England in due course.
The text of the resolution that passed on this day:
“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.”
Thus, Congress agreed to delay the vote on Lee's Resolution until July 1. In the intervening period, Congress appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration of independence. Its members were John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson, well-known to be the best writer of the group, was selected to be the primary author of the document, which was presented to Congress for review on June 28, 1776.
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/6339/declarationofindependennd2.jpg
Franklin, Adams and Jefferson reviewing the draft Declaration before its presentation to the full body of Congress
On July 1, 1776, debate on the Lee Resolution resumed as planned, with a majority of the delegates favoring the resolution. Congress thought it of the utmost importance that independence be unanimously proclaimed. To ensure this, they delayed the final vote until July 2, when 12 colonial delegations voted in favor of it, with the New York delegates abstaining, unsure of how their constituents would wish them to vote.
To clarify, they voted to split from Great Britain on this day. On July 4, they formally adopted a document drafted by Jefferson which contained their reasons for doing so, and which proclaimed independence for dispatch to London and publication to the American people.
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3474/decjonathantrumbullsignwg2.jpg
This life-sized painting by Trumball commissioned to adorn the new capitol building in DC was observed by Adams before he died in 1826. Adams did not approve because it was historically inaccurate. It depicts all the delegates present at the same time on July 4 as they prepared to sign the Decalaration. It simply didn't happen that way. In fact, they never were all together at one time. Even the vote on July 2 involved the use of proxies and correspondence. They arrived at various times and signed the Declaration at their convenience between July 2 and July 4. Nice painting though.
John Adams wrote that July 2 would be celebrated as "the most memorable epoch in the history of America." Instead, the day has been largely forgotten in favor of July 4, when Jefferson's edited Declaration of Independence was adopted.
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3686/decindependencehallew8.jpg
Independence Hall in Philadelphia where the votes were cast. It was very hot that summer. Over 90 degrees in the main room where they met.
On this day in 1776, the Second Continental Congress, assembled in Philadelphia, formally adopts Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence from Great Britain. The vote is unanimous, with only New York abstaining.
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3706/decrichardhenryleeuj2.jpg
Virginia lawyer Richard Henry Lee
The resolution had originally been presented to Congress on June 7, but it soon became clear that New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina were as yet unwilling to declare independence, though they would likely be ready to vote in favor of a break with England in due course.
The text of the resolution that passed on this day:
“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.”
Thus, Congress agreed to delay the vote on Lee's Resolution until July 1. In the intervening period, Congress appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration of independence. Its members were John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson, well-known to be the best writer of the group, was selected to be the primary author of the document, which was presented to Congress for review on June 28, 1776.
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/6339/declarationofindependennd2.jpg
Franklin, Adams and Jefferson reviewing the draft Declaration before its presentation to the full body of Congress
On July 1, 1776, debate on the Lee Resolution resumed as planned, with a majority of the delegates favoring the resolution. Congress thought it of the utmost importance that independence be unanimously proclaimed. To ensure this, they delayed the final vote until July 2, when 12 colonial delegations voted in favor of it, with the New York delegates abstaining, unsure of how their constituents would wish them to vote.
To clarify, they voted to split from Great Britain on this day. On July 4, they formally adopted a document drafted by Jefferson which contained their reasons for doing so, and which proclaimed independence for dispatch to London and publication to the American people.
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3474/decjonathantrumbullsignwg2.jpg
This life-sized painting by Trumball commissioned to adorn the new capitol building in DC was observed by Adams before he died in 1826. Adams did not approve because it was historically inaccurate. It depicts all the delegates present at the same time on July 4 as they prepared to sign the Decalaration. It simply didn't happen that way. In fact, they never were all together at one time. Even the vote on July 2 involved the use of proxies and correspondence. They arrived at various times and signed the Declaration at their convenience between July 2 and July 4. Nice painting though.
John Adams wrote that July 2 would be celebrated as "the most memorable epoch in the history of America." Instead, the day has been largely forgotten in favor of July 4, when Jefferson's edited Declaration of Independence was adopted.