On May 15, 1776, the fifth Virginia Convention meeting in Williamsburg passed a resolution calling on their delegates at the Second Continental Congress to declare a complete separation from Great Britain. Accordingly, on June 7, Richard Henry Lee rose and introduced into Congress what has come to be known as the Lee Resolution.

The words contained in the Declaration of Independence were some of the most revolutionary and radical ideas ever printed when the document was published in 1776. More importantly, they have been some of the most influential words in the history of the world and have helped to shape many nations.

When the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in May 1775, we had already fought the British at Lexington and Concord and affairs with the mother country were spiraling out of control. Over the next fourteen months, events would take place in America that would change the course of history.