Happy Independence Day!

Here’s hoping you have a wonderful day with your family and friends on this beautiful Independence Day! Here’s a little history, taken from www.reference.com.

Independence Day marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which established America as a country free from the rule of Great Britain. 

It is celebrated on the 4th of July.

Between 1765 and 1783, the American Revolution took place after a group of Englishmen traveled to America and formed the Thirteen Colonies. These settlers desired to be free from British rule, rejecting Parliament’s policies such as taxation without elected representation. During this time period, the colonists put together a group of delegates from each colony, collectively known as the Continental Congress. The meeting of the Second Continental Congress began in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775.

During the meeting of the Second Continental Congress, Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, proposed the colonies should declare themselves independent from Great Britain. After Lee’s motion was approved, the Committee of Five drafted what would become the Declaration of Independence. The members of this Committee of Five were John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. After some discussion and debate, revisions to the document were made, and the final draft was approved on July 4, 1776. This date eventually became known as Independence Day and is celebrated across the United States of America every year. Celebrations often include fireworks, parades and cookouts. Decorations and even clothing and accessories worn on Independence Day often incorporate the colors of the American flag — red, white and blue.