Page 55 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country

establish their own independent governments, “…sufficient to the

exigencies of their affairs.” This was important – it was not until
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May 15 1776 that Congress would make such a recommendation,
clearly indicating that the road to independence was both sought
and pursued. In a short amount of time, the events of 1776 would

escalate.
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On June 7 1776, Richard Henry Lee, representative from
Virginia, introduced to Congress the resolution, “That these united
colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states;

that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown; and
that all political connection between them and the State of Great

Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.” Although this
resolution did not pass due to general opposition, it was decided by

Congress to revisit the resolution again. This affirmation was
intuitive of the irreversible direction Congress was at –
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independence. On that June 11 , Thomas Jefferson was elected to a
committee to draft a declaration in support of Richard Henry Lee’s

resolution. With Thomas Jefferson were John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. The task before

them was daunting, treasonous and determined. Quite literally,
they realized that they were on a road to change the course of

history. No colony of any empire had previously been successful in
the quest for independence. In fact, the empires of England, France

and Spain would continue to have colonies into the late twentieth

century.
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In revisiting the resolution of Richard Henry Lee on that July 1 ,
the preliminary vote was not unanimous at nine for and two against

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