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Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia read a resolution before the continental Congress that these United Colonies are and have the right to be free and so should independent states. And that all political connection between them and Great Britain should be dissolved.

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June 11- July 1, 1776: Declaration of Independence Drafted 

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June 11- July 1, 1776: Declaration of Independence Drafted 

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Congress recessed for three weeks. And during this period the committee of 5 drafted the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson drafted it, Adam’s and Franklin made changes to it. Congress reconvened on July 1, 1776.

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July 2, 1776: Lee resolution adopted and consideration of declaration 

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July 2, 1776: Lee resolution adopted and consideration of declaration 

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On July 2, the Lee resolution was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies. Immediately afterward, congress began to. Consider the declaration. Congress made some alterations and deletions to it on July 2, ,3, and 4.

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June 11, 1776: Committee of 5 appointed 

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June 11, 1776: Committee of 5 appointed 

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consideration of the Lee resolution was postponed, and the committee of 5 was appointed to draft a statement that would be presented to the world. This statement as about independence.

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July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted and printed 

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July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted and printed 

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Late in the morning of July 4, the declaration was officially adopted, and the committee of five took the manuscript copy of the document to John Dunlap, official printer to the congress

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July 5, 1776: Copies of the Declaration dispatched 

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July 5, 1776: Copies of the Declaration dispatched 

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On the morning of the July 5, copies were printed by John Dunlap were dispatched by members of congress to various committees, assemblies, and to the commanders of the continental troops.

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July 19, 1776: Congress orders the declaration engrossed on parchment 

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July 19, 1776: Congress orders the declaration engrossed on parchment 

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Congress ordered that the declaration be fairly engrossed on parchment, with title and stile of the unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America and that the same, when engrossed, be signed by every member of congress

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The document was signed by most of the members on August 2. George Washington on August 27. On September 4, Richard Henry Lee, Eldridge Gerry, and Oliver Walcott signed. Mathew Thornton signed on November 19, and Thomas McKean signed in 1781