"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.
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.