American Revolution Background D U N L A P B R O A D S I D E S Q V E P U P D D S Q E L A E O C D V B S N Y S L F E B E N R U Y S O O A M R T Q W E K L A D S J S N R O B E R T R L I V I N G S T O N N S S M N Y C S F S T Z S M A D A N H O J E Q E V E S A N P R L P B K G U N W G W C S D R T M C Y N O Z N E L J P N D H V Q P N Y G Z P O I L O C B K I F E N Z X R B U O D N I J N N L V S N V N Z L F E C C C O M B O N C G U N L A R I E I K N K E R Q T M G C L B W F T R O N E A H D H W D N J E O C L E Q O T C O X T I F T L I A O I D A C S A C L R D C B R I T A F I H I B R O U G R T O Q N H S F W W V E P E R W K V C T Q D N F V L H G Q H R C N P A J B A O U H D E E Y T N Y U Q I B E I H D L S T N W F S N N V N D C I R T C F A R H U N A A U O N I I Z E A W I M M M I P T Z M B U M E P Y A T F E S C L Y P X A S O J C T A D O R G R N I T A N L F S W F A J H N G D Y N H G T O S R Z G Z O C S N M G L N G U T W H T S C I I B L C W S S B O T E N X E G I C O I N U H L B D Q D E H H Y M T O J K B I Z J A Y T P X G J L F L T N O T G N I X E L Z J Throughout the 1760s and frame this resolution. 1770s, relations between JEFFERSON did most GREAT BRITAIN and of the writing, with input THIRTEEN of her North from the committee. His American colonies had become original draft included a increasingly STRAINED. denunciation of the Fighting broke out in 1775 SLAVE TRADE, which at LEXINGTON and was later edited out. His CONCORD marking the draft was presented to the beginning of the American Continental Congress on Revolutionary War. Although July 1, 1776. The there was little initial sentiment Declaration was rewritten for outright independence, somewhat in general session the pamphlet COMMON prior to its adoption by SENSE by THOMAS PAINE the Continental Congress was able to promote the belief on July 4, 1776, at the that total independence was PENNSYLVANIA State the only possible route House. The adopted copy for the colonies. was then sent a few blocks away to the printing shop Independence was adopted of JOHN DUNLAP. on July 2, 1776 pursuant to Through the night between the "LEE RESOLUTION" 150 and 200 copies were presented to the CONTINENTAL made, now known as CONGRESS by Richard "DUNLAP BROADSIDES". Henry Lee of Virginia on The original has never June 7, 1776, which read been found. The 25 (in part): "Resolved: That Dunlap broadsides still these United Colonies are, known to exist are and of right ought to be, the oldest surviving free and independent States, copies of the document. that they are absolved from GREAT BRITAIN all allegiance to the BRITISH THIRTEEN CROWN, and that all STRAINED political connection between LEXINGTON them and the State of CONCORD Great Britain is, and COMMON SENSE ought to be, totally dissolved." THOMAS PAINE LEE RESOLUTION On June 11, 1776, a CONTINENTAL CONGRESS committee consisting of BRITISH CROWN JOHN ADAMS of JOHN ADAMS Massachusetts, BENJAMIN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FRANKLIN of Pennsylvania, THOMAS JEFFERSON THOMAS JEFFERSON ROBERT R LIVINGSTON of Virginia, ROBERT R ROGER SHERMAN LIVINGSTON of New JEFFERSON York, and ROGER SLAVE TRADE SHERMAN of Connecticut, PENNSYLVANIA was formed to draft a JOHN DUNLAP suitable declaration to DUNLAP BROADSIDES Learning With Puzzles™All Rights Reserved