"When in the Course of human events...."

These infamous words begin one of the most infamous documents in the history of mankind. The sheer audacity of a group of men in a rustic colony of the mightiest empire on earth to create a new country from scratch - designed from the bottom up - was breathtaking for its time. Before they could create a new country, however, they had to sever themselves from their existing overseas sovereign. Beginning in the late spring of 1776, they began to craft the document to do just that.

Oddly enough, the document was finalized and agreed upon on July 2nd. John Adams thought that July 2nd would be the day forever remembered in celebration:

Is that such a bad thing? Countries have been declaring their independence all around the world for centuries. What makes ours so special?

Perhaps because it was one of the first, upon which many others have been modeled. As recently as June 21st of this year, the tiny island of Forvik (population: 1) declared independence from the British government. Some of the wording should seem very familiar, such as:

The African country of Liberia was created by freed slaves from America. Besides borrowing names from America's founding fathers to name their cities, they also borrowed from our second-most hallowed governmental document when creating their own:

And while it is a wonderful thing that a country was formed by freed slaves, let us not forget that when the Declaration of Independence was written, not all men WERE created equal. Until the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, slavery was legal, and slaves only counted as 3/5 of a person. Perhaps that's why they named their country Liberia, based on the word "liberty".

However, all change requires a first step, and the first step taken 232 years ago has taken us where we are today, where - despite all its imperfections and imperfect leaders and bumps along the way - we've got a pretty good country. So let's take one more look at the document our forefathers created, who's actions have inspired generations around the world to believe that liberty and independence are possible:
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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.


In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

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.
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Happy Birthday America... :party: