Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
According to a proclamation by the President of the United States, 250 years ago the Founders convened in Philadelphia to establish the freedom and independence of the United States. Fifty-six men, representing the 13 Colonies, signed the Declaration of Independence, pledging their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the new nation’s cause.
The Declaration, crafted by Thomas Jefferson, asserts that "all men are created equal," endowed with unalienable rights including Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. This document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in July 1776.
The fight for independence lasted eight years, during which American patriots led by General George Washington faced hardships and persevered through key moments such as the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, crossing the Delaware River, and enduring Valley Forge. The ultimate victory at Yorktown secured American liberty for future generations.
The proclamation emphasizes that the enduring American spirit—centered on faith, grit, courage, resolve, and self-determination—has continued to shape the nation’s people and way of life since its founding.
From these beginnings, the original colonies on the Atlantic coast expanded into the strongest and wealthiest republic in history, fulfilling the founding generation’s vision.