In 1776, the Second Continental Congress gathered in Philadelphia. They faced a big choice: to break away from Great Britain. After months of debate, the delegates agreed that it was time. They chose Thomas Jefferson to write a document explaining why independence was necessary. Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence gave reasons for breaking away from British rule. It highlighted natural rights and said that “all men are created equal.”
After Congress approved the document, it needed to be shared with the public. Copies were sent to cities, towns, and military leaders. Many people gathered in public places to hear the words read aloud. Others celebrated in their own ways. These events helped the colonies feel united and ready to move forward as a new country.
June 1776 – Drafting the Declaration
In June 1776, Congress formed a committee to write a formal statement explaining why the colonies wanted independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote most of the draft, with help and edits from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The document argued that the colonies had the right to break away because the British government had not protected their natural rights.
July 4, 1776 – Congress Votes for Independence
The vote to approve the Declaration took place in Philadelphia on July 4. This was not just a protest. It was a clear decision to become an independent nation. The delegates printed copies to send to towns and leaders across the colonies so that the news could spread quickly.
July 8, 1776 – The First Public Reading in Philadelphia
Four days later, on July 8, the Declaration was read aloud to a large crowd in Philadelphia. It happened outside the State House, where Congress had been meeting. Colonel John Nixon read the document to a gathering of citizens for the first time.
July 9, 1776 – Washington’s Army Hears the News
On July 9, the Declaration reached General George Washington and his troops near New York City. Washington had the words read aloud to the soldiers. They were preparing to fight the British, and now they knew they were not just resisting unfair laws. They were fighting for a new, free country with a shared cause.
July 9, 1776 – A Statue Comes Down in New York
Later on July 9, a large crowd gathered at Bowling Green in New York City to take action. Among them were men calling themselves the Sons of Freedom, who helped pull down a statue of King George III. The statue once stood as a symbol of royal power. Now the statue represented everything the colonists were fighting against. Some of the metal was melted down to make bullets for the army, turning a symbol of British rule into tools of resistance.
July 18, 1776 – A Public Reading in Boston
On July 18, the Declaration was read in Boston from the balcony of the Old State House. People filled the streets to listen. Bells rang and cannons fired. The reading gave people hope and brought energy to the cause of independence, as more colonists joined the movement for freedom.