A tribute the men who made today possible,

for without them we would still be under British rule and would not have been able to achieve all that we have.  It took real courage to stand up to a nation that was as powerful as England some two hundred years ago.  But the founding fathers of our great nation decided to take a stand and demand independence.  It is them that we can thank for the wonderful life that we live today.

Our founding fathers took a giant leap of faith, hoping that an infant nation would be able to hold their own against a nation that had been in place for hundreds of years.  Though they knew that it was treason and if the revolution failed they would surely be put to death, they put their lives on the line to free hundreds of people who were alive and thousands who were yet to come.  They set forth the world's first democracy and paved the way for several others.

These men are...

Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Benjamin Franklin, who was a member of the committe that signed the Declaration of Independence.

George Washington, who was also a member of the committe that signed the Declaration of Independence.  He also fought in the Revolutionary War as a General.

John Hancock, who was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The members of the committe that were brave enough to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The members of the Continental Congress, who accepted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

       There are three parts to the Declaration of Independence not including the preamble.   The first, states the basic rights on which the nation is founded.  The second lists the Trynnical Acts committed by the British King.  The third and final part of the Declaration simply declares that the colonies were now the United States of America.  

        The first part, which states the basic right upon which the nation is founded, says that people protect these rights by forming governments.  It is from this part that the famous line, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable right, that among these rights  are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. "  comes from.  People who feel that they have been denied life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness often exclaim this.  The first part also gives the people the right to alter or abolish  the government and institute a new government that will effect their safety and happiness if the government abuses its power.

         The second part states the Trynnical Acts of the King of the British.  At that time the British King was George the Third.  This section also backed up the right that the colonists believed that they had; the right to revolt.  The king tried to force the colonial legislatures into doing what he wanted them to do by wearing them out.  At times he even dissolved legislatures.  In all there were twenty-seven grievances against the British King.  

       The final part of the Declaration declares the the thirteen colonies are now free of British rule and have become the United States of America.  The Continental Congress appointed a committe that would be in charge of writing the Declaration of Independence. Those who were a member of this committe and congress and wished to sign the Declaration were given the opportunity.  As a signer you pledged not only your life, but your fortune and honor as well.

       It is reasonable to conclude that the sacrifice that the men of the committe who drew up the Declaration of Independence was a great one.   They knew that everything must go right or their lives would end and their family name would be forever tarnished.  In short, the purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to, one- announce to the world the intent of the thirteen American colonies to break free from the British Empire, two- explain the reasons for the separation from the British Empire, and three- list the specific wrongs done to the thirteen colonies by the King of England.

Please have a safe and happy July Fourth with your family.

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