Celebrate July 2nd as the True Independence Day

Sterling Watkins of Claypool United Methodist Church as Thomas Jefferson July 2nd, 2016

Independence Day is my favorite civic holiday. But I don’t wait to celebrate on July 4th. I observe American Independence on the day it actually happened…July 2nd. Yep. Please visit: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/when-is-the-real-independence-day-july-2-or-july-4/

And you will discover this…

Officially, the Continental Congress declared our freedom from Great Britain on July 2, 1776, when it voted to approve a resolution submitted by delegate Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, declaring ““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.”

It is understood that the original copy of the Declaration was sent to the King of England. I suppose so. But also consider…the Second Continental Congress, hoping to gain assistance from other countries such as France, sent original copies to them as well. My support for this argument is found in the Declaration…”a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

Right up front there, closing of first paragraph, just like they taught us in high school, we read the purpose of the document.

The Second Continental Congress wrote this document more to persuade other countries and gain their sympathy and support than to actually notify the King of England.

In any case, I proclaim July 2^nd as Independence Day.