Page 47 - ASM Book 9/2020

• JUNE 7 - AMERICAN ACTION: Richard Henry Lee, a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, presented the Virginia Resolution that called for independence for the 13 colonies.
• JUNE 11 - AMERICAN ACTION: In response to the introduction of the Virginia Resolution, Congressional president John Hancock appointed the Committee of Five to write a declaration of independence.
• JUNE 28 - AMERICAN ACTION: American forces defended Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island in Charleston, South Carolina against a British naval attack and inflicted heavy damage on the British fleet.
• JUNE 28 - AMERICAN ACTION: The Committee of Five presented the Declaration of Independence to Congress.
• JULY 2 - AMERICAN ACTION: Twelve colonies voted to adopt the Virginia Resolution. The New York delegates abstained from voting.
• JULY 4 - AMERICAN ACTION: Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. New York was the only colony not to vote.
• JULY 12 - BRITISH ACTION: Reinforcements arrived: 30 battleships landed at Staten Island with 300 cargo ships, 1,200 cannons, 30,000 soldiers and 10,000 sailors.
• JULY 12 - BRITISH ACTION: Two British frigates sailed up the Hudson River as a show of force.
• AUGUST 2 - AMERICAN ACTION: 56 members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.
The Resolution That Freed the Colonies
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Richard Henry Lee of Virginia followed instructions from the Virginia Convention and introduced the Virginia Resolution to Congress on June 7, 1776.
This resolution declared the Colonies to be free and independent States. It stated: “Resolved, 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.” This resolution started the chain of events that led to the Declaration of Independence.
The Virginia Convention unanimously approved the resolution on May 15 in Williamsburg, Virginia.
On June 11, President Hancock appointed the Committee of Five to write a declaration of independence.
Consideration of the Virginia Resolution was postponed until July 1 to give delegates time to get instructions from their colonies before voting.
Richard Henry Lee’s original copy of the Virginia Resolution.