© 2026 Don Pinson / (To download, right-click on the gray play bar and select “Save Audio As”)

Delegates from the American colonies had begun the Continental Congresses on their knees, crying to the God of heaven for help. They had knelt signifying that their rights came from God and that they were appealing to Him to show that their cause was just.  Now, in July of 1776, they were again declaring their dependence on Him as they considered declaring their independence from England.  It was in this spirit that Virginia delegate, Richard Henry Lee, would propose the resolution on June 7th that,

“…these colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.”

(John Adams and the American Revolution, Catherine Bowen, Little Brown and Co., Boston, 1950, p. 583)

A committee was appointed to draft a Declaration of Independence.  Thomas Jefferson would do most of the writing of that Declaration, in which he would declare the reason that caused 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…” (emphasis added)

The Declaration was presented to the Continental Congress on Monday, July 1st. Still, they hesitated to make the break.  The next day, Dickinson from Pennsylvania spoke against independence in his very eloquent way.  A long silence ensued after he sat down.  The destiny of future generations hung in the balance.  Slowly, John Adams of Massachusetts arose to his feet to speak.  He spoke quietly, but with great conviction and emotion: