January 1, This Day in History – June 7th: The Establishment of the United Colonies, a Stepping Stone to Independence

On June 7th, 1776, a momentous occasion unfolded in American history. It was on this day that Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed a resolution in the Second Continental Congress, calling for the American colonies to be “free and independent states.” This proposal laid the groundwork for the formal assertion of American independence.

Lee’s resolution stated, “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown.” It marked a significant escalation in the growing rift between the American colonies and the British government.

While the resolution was not immediately adopted due to the need for broader consensus among the colonies, it catalyzed the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. The committee assigned to this task included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.

Less than a month later, on July 2nd, the Congress would officially adopt Lee’s resolution, followed by the approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. This June 7th, we commemorate the daring proposal that shaped the course of American history, paving the way for the birth of a nation founded on the ideals of liberty and self-determination.