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First, on July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to pass a simple resolution put forward by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, declaring the colonies independent states. (By agreement, this was a "unanimous" vote, that is, with the delegation of each of the 13 colonies voting for it - or, in one case, abstaining. The opposition of one colony would have ended the matter.)

Congress then proceeded to debate the document formally declaring independence and explaining their reasons (the "Declaration of Independence") that had been drafted by a five-man committee appointed for that purpose several weeks earlier, and of which Thomas Jefferson was the chairman and thus the main writer. (Lee and Jefferson were chosen to lead these efforts in order to gain support from the more conservative Southern delegations who were hesitant to follow the lead of Massachusetts, which had been arguing in favor of such a resolution for many months.)

On July 4, the edited document was voted on (and accepted), and was signed in behalf of the Congress by its President, John Hancock (along with the Secretary, Wm. Thompson). The document was sent to the printer, and other members of Congress signed the version he returned, beginning on August 2, 1776. In the meantime, a number of simple "broadsides" of the original (with just Hancock's & Thompson's signatures) were distributed and read throughout the county.

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15y ago

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