Taxation without representation!" was the battle cry in America’s 13 Colonies, which were forced to pay taxes to England's King George III despite having no representation in the British Parliament. As dissatisfaction grew, British troops were sent in to quell the early movement toward rebellion. Repeated attempts by the Colonists to resolve the crisis without military conflict proved fruitless.
On June 11, 1776, the Colonies' Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and formed a committee whose express purpose was drafting a document that would formally sever their ties with Great Britain. The committee included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson, who was considered the strongest and most eloquent writer, crafted the original draft document (as seen above). A total of 86 changes were made to his draft and the Continental Congress officially adopted the final version on July 4, 1776.
The following day, copies of the Declaration of Independence were distributed, and on July 6, The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to print the extraordinary document. The Declaration of Independence has since become America nation's most cherished symbol of liberty.
I think this day is so important because it symbolises the vast shrinkage of the English empire and the start of a nation that plays an important role in our everyday life. America, whether we like it or not affects our everyday lif, as for entertainment like movies or music, technology, food; generally everything is affected by the American culture.That brings me to the thought of what would happen if there was not an American independence day.What if America was still a colony? Could our lives be completely different ?
Thought provoking questions at the end, Catherine! Yes, a minor change in history could mean a major alteration in our world today, for better or for worse; who is to know?
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