Independence!
Few carried the cry
Radicals all said
Revolution!
Still fewer followed in
April 1775!

Independence!
The cry was growing louder
"Common Sense" was to blame
Revolution!
More and more came
In early 1776.

Independence!
The call was deafening!
Congress met to decide
Would they leave or stay?
Fate would be chosen
Left to five men

Thomas Jefferson of Virginia,
John Adams of Massachusetts,
Roger Sherman of Connecticut,
Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania,
Robert R Livingston of New York,
All must convince Congress to leave

July 2, 1776
Congress votes
Independence!
The people cheer
July 4
Independence is announced!

America was born.

Highland_Dancer  July 4, 2019

Initially, when the call for independence came about, few people believed in the cause as most were still loyal to Britain. The first battles for the revolutionaries were vastly out numbered. They faced many challenges including being shunned in some cases.

By the next year, thanks in part to revolutionary sentiments like "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine and growing hostility towards the British.

When Continental Congress met to Address the issue, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee was the one to introduce the motion for declaring Independence from Britain. This action sparked a very heated debate and the vote on Lee's motion was postponed.

Instead, they appointed a five man committee to convince them and justify independence from Britain. It was this committee that would change the shape of history.

On July 2,1776 the Continental Congress votes in favour of Lee's motion for independence in a near unanimous vote! Only New York was to abstain, but they too voted in affirmation later.

John Adams wrote to his wife that evening saying July 2nd "will be celebrated but succeeding generations as the Great Anniversary festival. The celebration shall include Pomp and Parade, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other."

On July 4, Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. From the on July 4th was celebrated as the emergence of American Independence.

John Adams did not attend the festivities that year and until his death in protest of the date.

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you did, please press the star and leave a comment!

Happy Independence Day!