Friday, July 04, 2008

Our Independence

Here is The Old State House in Boston - on July 18th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was first read to the public for the first time - right off of that front balcony to the citizens of Boston!



















Just imagine for a moment....you are down below hearing these words for the first time.....


IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. 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. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world..................

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That 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, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Gives you goosebumps just thinking about it - eh??

For some 4th of July fun - take a patriotic quiz about our Independence - see if you remember all of the answers(if not, ask a 5th grader!!)
Happy 4th everyone!

7 comments:

Decor To Adore said...

Images and words such as these make my heart sing with pride. Happy 4th of July!

Anonymous said...

Happy 4th of July ladies. I am coming to visit in the next week or two.

Hugs,
LeAnn:)
Can't believe you are only 1/2 hour away.

Terri Steffes said...

I love Boston! I saw these sites two summers ago. I loved being in the very places where these powerful words were said.

Anonymous said...

Happy 4th of July!
Stopped by to say hi...
and I am waving my flag high today:)
Love your music on your blog...Saints come marching in!!Very nice:)

kayellen

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi! Love your blog! I've enjoyed visiting you and will be back to see you regularly! Fabulous music!!
Hugs, Sherry
Love that old stove on the porch, my big sister had one to cook on in her first apartment!

Trixi said...

I love your flags and all the history you have shared here.
Blessings,
Trixi

Janet said...

Well, that was certainly very humbling! I am on my way to find an immigrant to re-learn history from.

Janet

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