Today, we celebrate Independence Day and express our gratitude to people who did something dangerous and foolhardy because they thought it was the right thing to do. They told one of the world’s superpowers that we wanted to be our own country. Thanks to them, today you are free to choose your own religion, or have none, criticize the government without fear of imprisonment, and reside here where we put Live Free or Die” right on the license plates. I am grateful that my grandparent’s came to this country and that I was born an American. ~ Steve

“Did you know? John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.” https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th

Washington and Jefferson get a lot of credit and remembrance, but we should remember the others who did a lot of the heavy lifting ads we became a nation. Many did not want complete independence from Great Britain. It is believed that Thomas Paine’s writings helped sway public opinion.

“Published in 1776, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain.” https://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/

Alexander Hamilton helped ratify the Constitution by writing 51 of the 85 installments of The Federalist Papers, which are still used as one of the most important references for Constitutional interpretation. Hamilton led the Treasury Department as a trusted member of President Washington’s first Cabinet.