July 04th, 1776 – The Day The Continental Congress Officially Adopted The Declaration of Independence

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights." These powerful words were made immortal when The Continental Congress officially adopted the final draft of The Declaration of Independence on July 04th, 1776. And while such words may ring pretty to the modern day ear, during the time they were penned, which was a time of empires, kings, and monarchs, it was daring to the point of high treason to declare that men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. For during this time period, all those in the American colonies were British subjects and at the mercy of the British Crown. Whatever rights one might hope to have, could only be had at the favor of the British King.

Yet, The Declaration of Independence set off a global movement that led to the creation of states through the wreckage of empires or confederations. With more than half of the 192 countries who are currently represented in the United Nations claiming their own founding document akin to The Declaration of Independence. With The Declaration of Independence also greatly impacting social movements since its adoption. Specifically, the Abolitionist Movement, the Women's Suffrage Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and the rights of indigenous peoples. And, to think, it all started 249 years ago when Thomas Jefferson sat down at his desk in a Philadelphia boarding house with his pen in hand.

A committee of five was selected by The Continental Congress to draft some kind of sensible document stating their intentions. With the committee being comprised of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Given that Thomas Jefferson had the reputation of being a gifted writer and as a young and handsome gentleman he had fewer enemies in The Continental Congress than the likes of the hot-headed John Adams, the five-member committee delegated the task or writing said document to Thomas Jefferson.

The committee chose well. For Thomas Jefferson was highly educated. He started college at the College of William & Mary at the age of 17. And upon the completion of his studies pursued an education in law which led to him becoming a highly respected legal mind of the times. He could read Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish and English. With Thomas Jefferson also dabbling in German, Arabic, Gaelic, and Welsh. In fact, he once told John Quincy Adams that he had learned Spanish in 19 days while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, with the assistance of the Cervantes classic, "Don Quixote".

Thomas Jefferson spent 17 days between June 11th and June 28th, 1776 penning the words to The Declaration of Independence. And much to his consternation, 86 changes were made to his draft by the members of The Continental Congress. Including removing Thomas Jefferson's condemnation of the British King and his role in promoting slavery. Yet, the final draft proved worthy enough for the delegates to pledge "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor" to The Declaration of Independence. A pledge on their part which did not come without a cost.

Five signers of The Declaration of Independence were captured by the British and subjected to the British type of torture, which did not prohibit "cruel and unusual punishment". An estimated one-third of the signers of The Declaration of Independence such as Thomas Nelson, Jr. had their homes looted or destroyed. Some of the signers like John Witherspoon lost their sons in the subsequent American Revolution. Some of the signers' families were rendered destitute as some of the signers lost their entire fortunes. And nine of the signers such as Button Gwinnett died during the American Revolution from battle wounds or hardships. Francis Lewis' wife was imprisoned by the British and died as a result.

Since General George Washington had already taken command of The Continental Army, he was not present during the drafting of The Declaration of Independence. But, when he received notice of The Declaration of Independence, he had it read to his troops on July 09th, 1776 as Hessian troops were landing on Staten Island for an attack on New York. George Washington correctly surmised that The Declaration of Independence would bolster the morale of his nascent rag tag army and their commitment to fighting for the Patriot cause.

Interestingly enough, while "separation of Church and state" has become a popular phrase in American legal rhetoric, The Declaration of Independence, itself, made at least four references to God beginning with its very first sentence as it refers to the laws of nature and of "Nature's God". Other references to God come in the form of references to "endowed by their Creator", the "Supreme Judge of the world", and "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence" to the Patriot cause.

And while "Born on The Fourth of July" might be the title of an anti-war biographical drama Tom Cruise movie, since the adoption of The Declaration of Independence and the subsequent formation of the U.S. system of government, there has actually been one American President who was indeed born on The Fourth of July, Calvin Coolidge. With the 30th President of The United States, Calvin Coolidge having been born on July 04th, 1872. Happy Fourth of July!