July 4: America's Birthday

236 years ago today, one of the most influential documents in the history of the United States was adopted and ratified by Congress---The Declaration of Independence.

Drafting the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson, a member of the committee of five (John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson) appointed to draft a statement presenting to the world the colonies case for independence, was the author of the document. In the declaration, Jefferson summarized what he called "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of grievances against the British Empire in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.

In stirring words and phrases, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. Here are the familiar first two sentences of the Declaration:

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When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..

(Read the entire Declaration of Independence here:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html )

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Tonight our family is going to the City Park in Priest River to watch the 4th of July fireworks with friends and neighbors. In whatever way you decide to celebrate this important day, I hope you all have a wonderful 4th.

 Enjoy your Independence Day.
Love your Freedom.