Message:25013 In: TODAY.WW
From: KF5JRVDate: Thu, 02 Jul 26 07:29:00 Z
Newsgroups: TODAY.WW
Subject: Today in History - Jul 02
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The Second Continental Congress, assembled in Philadelphia, formally adopts Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence f
rom Great Britain. The vote is unanimous, with only New York abstaining.
The resolution had originally been presented to Congress on June 7, but it soon became clear that New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl
vania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina were as yet unwilling to declare independence, though they would likely be ready t
o vote in favor of a break with England in due course. Thus, Congress agreed to delay the vote on Lees 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 a
uthor of the document, which was presented to Congress for review on June 28, 1776.
On July 1, 1776, debate on the Lee Resolution resumed as planned, with a majority of the delegates favoring the resolution. Con
gress thought it of the utmost importance that independence be unanimously proclaimed. To ensure this, they delayed the final v
ote until July 2, when 12 colonial delegations voted in favor of it, with the New York delegates abstaining, unsure of how thei
r constituents would wish them to vote. John Adams wrote that July 2 would be celebrated as the most memorable epoch in the his
tory of America. Instead, the day has been largely forgotten in favor of July 4, when Jefferson edited Declaration of Independe
nce was adopted.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
Email KF5JRV@gmail.com
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