We celebrate America’s birth on July 4. Why? It was July 2 that the Continental Congress resolved, “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” Shouldn’t that day, as John Adams predicted, “be the most memorable epoch in the history of America”? No.
On July 2 we effected our political separation. On July 4 we declared to the world the principles our nation is built upon – a creed that applies to all men and all times.
Happy Independence Day!
Thomas Sanford is a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please visit: http://www.heritage.org/about/departments/ylp.cfm