5 Things You May Not Know About Independence Day
Published on July 4, 2024
On July 4, Americans will observe the 248th birthday of the United States. In 1776, members of the Second Continental Congress gathered in Philadelphia had already made a decision the impact of which would be felt around the world for centuries to come: the collective colonies agreed to declare their independence from Great Britain, at the time the most powerful nation on the planet. Many people know what happened next. The document, written by a young and upstart Thomas Jefferson, was officially approved by the Continental Congress. News of its adoption traveled the breadth of the eastern seaboard, the news slowly and painstakingly making its way to the frontiers....