Student's Times 2014-2018 2015/17/06 Deváté číslo | Page 9

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on
July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had
been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great
Britain. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a
statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas
Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally
approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe
that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be
commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty