Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
The British, Dutch, French and Spanish inhabited America. Finally the British took over as the Power. In 1765 The British government, under King George, passed the Stamp Act. Great protests arose from American colonists. Additional taxing further angered Americans.
In 1774 the 13 American colonies formed the First Continental Congress. A Committee of Five (John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman) prepared the first draft of the “Declaration of Independence” on June 11 to explain why the American colonies wanted separation from the British Empire. To become independent states, they signed it on July 4, 1776.
The committee chose Jefferson over Adams to write the first draft. At only thirty-three, he did not have the reputation of Adams and Franklin but he did possess superior writing skills. With his “felicity of expression” as they called it, Jefferson excelled above the more ponderous Adams. Did they feel concern that, Franklin, good at coining aphorisms, might have included a joke or two?
Take time today to reflect on your legacy as an American. Read the Declaration of Independence.
What do you think about the last lines? "And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."
These men pledged their lives to secure a foundation for the United States of America. Our military supports that pledge. Consider what you can do on July 4 to honor your American heritage.
Share what you feel proud of when you say you're an American.
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