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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.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAll 13 of the English-speaking colonies in North America:
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
The above list is correct regarding the colonies that declared independence, but there were more than 13 English-speaking colonies in North America at the time! Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec (which then included what is now Ontario), Bahamas, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoBy colonists I assume you mean the 13 colonies on the West shore of North America? And they declared their independence from Britain (In fact that has a war of independence) and formed the U.S.A. the United States of America
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Who did the 13 colonies declare independence from?
Bitiain
What was the purpose of the declarartion of independence?
It was to declare the independence of the 13 colonies from Great Britain.
Why did the american colonies declare inpendence from britain?
The American colonies declared independence from Britain because of the taxation.
What was the role of the Declaration of Independence?
To inform the King of why the colonies were leaving and declared independence.
Why did Thomas Paine write commons Sense?
to persuade the colonies to declare independanceTo convince the American colonists to declare independence from Great Britain, then set up a democratic government.
How did colonies declare independence?
They wrote the declaration of independence.
Who did the 13 colonies declare independence from?
Bitiain
What did the declaration of independence declare for the colonies?
i researched that 12 out of the 13 colonies voted yes to the Declaration of Independence
When did the 13 original colonies declare there Independence?
in 1776
What war did the colonies declare their independence?
The Revolutionary War
What was the purpose of the declarartion of independence?
It was to declare the independence of the 13 colonies from Great Britain.
Why did the colonies declare independence?
The british taxes were to high and they had a rebellion
What year did American colonies declare their independence?
July 4, 1776
From who did the thirteen colonies declare independence?
Britain and King George III
In what year did the Thirteen Colonies declare their independence from Great Britan?
1776
Why did Thomas Paine write commonsense?
To persuade the colonies to declare independence
Whose authority does the congress use to declare independence in the last paragraph of the delaration of independence?
the good people of the colonies the good people of the colonies
