July 4th and the Real Self-evident Truth Behind that Day
July fourth, the day we celebrate our freedoms. The day we officially became an independent country away from the tyranny of England and a tyrannical King.
July fourth, the day the Declaration of independence was signed, where officially the thirteen colonies formed would become U.S. States.
But hold the phone! Stop the presses!
We have been taught this history since we were children and it will still be taught in schools and even universities but there is something you may not be aware of that in truth, is not so "self-evident". Back in June of 1776, a man named Richard he n ry Lee, put together a draft, later to be called the Lee Resolution.
It stated, "That these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states." The Lee Resolution contained three parts: a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and a plan for confederation.
Because members of Congress believed the actions Lee proposed to be premature or wanted instructions from their colonies before voting, approval was deferred until July 2. On that date, Congress adopted the first part (the declaration). The words of the Lee Resolution are echoed in the Declaration of Independence.
The affirmative votes of twelve colonies were listed in the signatures. New York didn't cast a vote until the newly elected New York Convention upheld the Declaration of Independence on July 9, 1776.
The plan for making treaties was not approved until September of 1776; the plan of confederation was delayed until November of 1777.
Thereby, based on a little-known piece of history we in effect and by now, should be self-evident that our "Independence" wasn't July Fourth but rather July Second
But hey, who am I to upset the apple cart, right? Celebrate both days and be happy for the fact we still do have some rights and freedoms, and that's self-evident.
As for most of the questions posed in this challenge, in a round ab out way they have been answered.