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Independence Day 2017

"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, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Declaration of Independence.

“Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument.” archives.gov.

In the Declarationof Independence Thomas Jefferson lists various reasons why Independence is necessary, just a few are listed below:

  • "The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.” archives.gov.
  • "He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us." archives.gov.
  • "For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments .” archives.gov.
  • "For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies." archives.gov.
  • “In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” archives.gov.
Read the full transcript of the Declaration of Independence at archives.gov
 
Independence Day is one of the most important federal holidays in the United States commemorating the Declarationof Independence, which declared our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Although celebrated on July 4th every year, “July 2, 1776 is the day that the Continental Congress actually voted for independence.” archives.gov.

The founders understood the importance of the their actions. In a letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776, John Adams stated, “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. masshist.org.

Local County Governments will be closed in honor of this wonderful celebration. Independence Day Court Hours 2017.

The Law Office of Christine M Bechtold, LLC also will be closed Monday, July 3, 2017 and Tuesday, July 4, 2017 to celebrate this wonderful holiday of independence. Send a confidential email directly to attorney Bechtold for legal information Christine@Bechtold-Law.com.