The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 4, 2025
Thomas Jefferson is credited with most of the text of the Declaration of Independence. But the “independence” part came from a Virginian named Richard Henry Lee on June 7th, 1776.
The First Continental Congress sent a list of grievances in 1774 to King George III, among them the loss of their rights under English law, the occupation by British forces in peacetime, and the oppressive Coercive Acts, passed by Parliament to shut down colonial unrest. The King and Parliament didn’t respond, other than to pass more restrictive laws.
By mid-May 1776, eight colonies supported independence, including Virginia, which directed its delegates to support independence at the Second Continental Congress. Virginia plantation-owner and delegate Richard Henry Lee, on June 7, 1776, presented his resolution for independence to the congress in Philadelphia, which tabled action to July 2.
In the interim, Thomas Jefferson, with light editing by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, crafted a statement which would become the Declaration of Independence which included Richard Henry Lee’s independence resolution word for word:
“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.” Read the full Declaration of Independence at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
National Archives Foundation – 1774 Articles of Association
Yale Law School Goldman Library – Text of the Articles of Association
National Constitution Center – On this day: The First Continental Congress concludes
National Archives – The Declaration of Independence – A Transcription
National Archives – The Declaration of Independence: A History
Library of Virginia – Richard Henry Lee Biography
National Archives – Creating the Declaration: A Timeline
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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