A history of the United States of America; its people and its institutions . s took its first actiontoward independence in June, 1776, in a resolution offeredby Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, that these UnitedColonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and IndependentStates. John Adams seconded the resolution. A com-mittee of five, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Liv-ingston, was appointed to draw up a declaration in whichthat resolution should be suitably embodied. The Declaration of Independence.—Thomas Jeffersonprepared the declar
A history of the United States of America; its people and its institutions . s took its first actiontoward independence in June, 1776, in a resolution offeredby Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, that these UnitedColonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and IndependentStates. John Adams seconded the resolution. A com-mittee of five, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Liv-ingston, was appointed to draw up a declaration in whichthat resolution should be suitably embodied. The Declaration of Independence.—Thomas Jeffersonprepared the declaration. Lees resolution was adopted onJuly 2 by the vote of twelve colonies (New York not voting).On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of American Independencewas formally adopted by Congress, and signed by John Han- 202 FROM COLONIES TO UNITED STATES. cock, President of Congress, in that bold hand which, as hesaid, The King of England could read without name was afterward followed by those of the otherdelegates.^ With the signing of that document the thirteen. Tin-; of Independence. American colonies of Great Britain ceased to exist; theUnited States of America had taken their place.^ While the signing was going on John Hancock remarked, Wemust be unanimous ; there must be no pulling different ways ; we musthang together. Yes, said Franklin, we must, all hang togetheror else we shall all hang separately. ^ There is a legend that the ringer of the famous old State Housebell waited in the belfry for news of the passage of the had placed his son in the hall below to warn him of the length he heard the boy in the street, clapping his hands andshouting, Ring! Ring! In a moment more the peal of libertysounded far and wide from the bell, on which, as if by inspiration,had been placed the inscription, Proclaim liberty throughout theland unto all the inhabitants thereof. This bell is now the most THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE
Size: 1973px × 1266px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidhistoryofuniteds07morr
