On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced into the Second Continental Congress what has come to be known as the Lee Resolution, calling for a complete separation from Great Britain. This leap of faith into the unknown space of independence finally had been publicly demanded and a contentious debate ensued. Congress created a committee to draft a declaration of independence in the event they chose that course of action. The committee included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson, and chose Jefferson to be the main penman.

To fully appreciate the Declaration of Independence, we must remember these words revolutionized the way not only Americans but also much of the world viewed the role of government and where the right to govern originates.

After the French and Indian War, England’s resources were depleted. Parliament decided to tax the American colonies, as well as revoke some freedoms. The colonists' resistance to these acts yielded no results, and the call was made to draft our Declaration of Independence.

By the mid-1700s, the American colonies had learned to govern and defend themselves. More and more people realized it made no sense for a government thousands of miles away to make decisions for the colonies, especially one that imposed unfair burdens and ignored requests for change.