THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 4, 1994 TAG: 9406300001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 26 lines
In Congress, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, on behalf of the Virginia delegation, asked the Second Continental Congress to form a resolution of independence. On June 11, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman were instructed to draft such a resolution. Jefferson did the writing, and the first draft was revised by Franklin, John Adams and Jefferson before it was sent to Congress, where it was again revised. A resolution of independence was adopted July 2. The Declaration of Independence, setting out the reasons for the July 2 resolution, was adopted July 4. John Hancock, president of the Congress, provided the first signature. MEMO: The Declaration is reprinted on the Editorial Page. by CNB