T7+-+6.2A

T7 - 6.2B Yohann Samarasinghe, Michael Durkin (Declaration of Independence)

**  BELLS RING FREEDOM IN THE COLONIES   ** 

August 3, 1776 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Declaration of Independence “dissolves” all ties with the British

Yesterday, the Declaration of Independence was completed after what seemed like a long time in the making. All of the delegates able to, signed the document yesterday, August 2nd, 1776. These signatures sealed the deal on the declaration almost exactly a month after its ratification, on July 4th of this year. Furthermore, it is rumored that the signing means the delegates are confident about the way the war is playing out. Could this mean the end of the war is nearing against the seemingly impregnable British forces? Quite possibly! On July 4th almost a month ago the road to freedom started when our Declaration of Independence was ratified here in Philadelphia A few days later the road to freedom became clearer as the document became unanimously supported throughout the colonies, when New York’s delegates submitted their vote on July 9. These dates mark the end of our ties with the British and the start of our lives as Americans. The Declaration of Independence itself, which has not been completely circulated yet, consists of three main parts. The first part is how the delegates and the writer, Thomas Jefferson, view the purpose of the government to protect our basic rights as Americans. As the declaration states, “that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.” The second main part is a list of the wrongs and grievances that King George III has committed on us over the past 10 years. There are 25 of these wrongs and grievances written into the document, which is just an understatement for the all the wrongs that he has truly committed towards every single one of us! The third and last section states that our colonies will no longer be under British rule, and henceforth will be the free and independent 13 United Sates of America. The last section also states the resolution of Robert E. Lee. A true patriot, Lee stood up two months ago at a Continental Congress meeting and stated why all ties with the British “ought to be totally dissolved.” Eventually the congress voted unanimously in favor of the resolution and thus the Declaration of Independence was created. The congress and many colonists, already swaying toward complete freedom and separation from the British, after reading this January’s Common Sense by __Thomas Paine__, have happily accepted the Declaration of Independence and the steps preceding it. The document is concluded by the signatures of the delegates that were mostly added yesterday. The Declaration is structured much like its “cousin”, as some patriots refer to, the 1774 Declaration of Rights. This “cousin” document is thought to have a major role in the creation of the Declaration of Independence, as they both contain rights the colonists should be guaranteed and a major section devoted to accusations and wrongdoings of the British government and King George III. -Reported by journalists Yohann Samarasinghe and Michael Durkin