| | ''Not the cold, dry, lame [[liberal]] expression, "Fourth of July"'' | | ''Not the cold, dry, lame [[liberal]] expression, "Fourth of July"'' |
| − | '''Independence Day''' is the celebration of the birthday of the [[United States of America]], referred to in [[Secularized Language|secularized language]] as July 4 or the Fourth of July. On July 4, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally adopted the [[Declaration of Independence]], thereby breaking ties with the Kingdom of [[Great Britain]] and forming a new nation.<ref>The Congress had already voted for independence on July 2, 1776 and on July 4 it gave the reasons in the ''Declaration of Independence.''.</ref> This document, written primarily by [[Thomas Jefferson]], announced that the 13 [[American]] colonies were no longer part of the [[British Empire]] and would henceforth be free and independent.<ref>[http://www.history.com/videos/jefferson-writes-declaration-of-independence Jefferson Writes Declaration of Independence]. ''The History Channel website''. 2010. Accessed Jul 4, 2010.</ref> This document contains the most influential sentence in the [[English]] language: | + | '''Independence Day''' is the celebration of the birthday of the [[United States of America]], referred to in [[Secularized Language|secularized language]] as July 4 or the Fourth of July. On July 4, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally adopted the [[Declaration of Independence]], thereby breaking ties with the Kingdom of [[Great Britain]] and forming a new nation.<ref>The Congress had already voted for independence on July 2, 1776 and on July 4 it gave the reasons in the ''Declaration of Independence.''.</ref> This document, written primarily by [[Thomas Jefferson]], announced that the 13 [[American]] colonies were no longer part of the [[British Empire]] and would henceforth be free and independent.<ref>[http://www.history.com/videos/jefferson-writes-declaration-of-independence Jefferson Writes Declaration of Independence]. ''The History Channel website''. 2010. Accessed Jul 4, 2010.</ref> This Declaration of Independence contains the most influential sentence in the [[English]] language: |
| | <blockquote>"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their [[God|Creator]] with certain [[unalienable rights|unalienable Rights]], that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."</blockquote> | | <blockquote>"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their [[God|Creator]] with certain [[unalienable rights|unalienable Rights]], that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."</blockquote> |