Lee Resolution

Lee Resolution, also known as the resolution for independence, was a pivotal act passed by the Second Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. It declared the Thirteen Colonies to be independent sovereign states, free from allegiance to the British Crown. The resolution, proposed by Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee, set in motion the formal drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Its adoption marked the definitive political break between the colonies and Great Britain, a foundational moment in the American Revolution.

Background and context

The movement toward independence accelerated following the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. The Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, initially sought reconciliation, as expressed in the Olive Branch Petition sent to King George III. However, the king's rejection and the escalation of conflict, including the Battle of Bunker Hill and the publication of Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet Common Sense, galvanized public opinion. By early 1776, colonial assemblies like those in Massachusetts and Virginia were instructing their delegates in Philadelphia to pursue independence. The Lee family of Virginia, particularly Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, were at the forefront of this push, acting on instructions from the Virginia Convention.

Text and content

The resolution presented by Richard Henry Lee on June 7, 1776, contained three distinct parts. The first and most famous clause resolved "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." The second clause called for the formation of foreign alliances, specifically urging efforts to secure support from France and Spain. The third clause proposed a plan for confederation, leading to the eventual drafting of the Articles of Confederation. The language was direct and revolutionary, framing the colonies as sovereign entities entitled to levy war, conclude peace, and establish commerce.

Congressional debate and passage

Immediately after Richard Henry Lee introduced the resolution, vigorous debate ensued within the Second Continental Congress. Key supporters, known as the radicals, included John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania. Opposition came from delegates in the Middle Colonies, such as John Dickinson of Pennsylvania and James Wilson of Pennsylvania, who feared the move was premature and hoped for reconciliation. A vote was postponed for three weeks to allow undeclared delegations to receive new instructions from their home colonies. During this time, a Committee of Five—including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin—was appointed to draft a formal declaration. On July 2, 1776, with the arrival of Caesar Rodney to break a deadlock in the Delaware delegation, the Congress voted unanimously (with New York abstaining) to adopt the resolution for independence.

Aftermath and significance

The adoption of the resolution on July 2, 1776, was immediately recognized by delegates like John Adams as the true birthday of American independence. It provided the legal authority for the Committee of Five to present the Declaration of Independence, which was then debated, revised, and finally adopted on July 4. The resolution's call for foreign alliances bore fruit with the Treaty of Alliance with France in 1778, a turning point in the American Revolutionary War. Its third clause initiated the process that culminated in the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution. The act transformed the Continental Army, under George Washington, from a force opposing parliamentary overreach into an army fighting for a new sovereign nation.

Legacy and commemoration

While July 4 is celebrated as the national holiday, the anniversary of the resolution's passage on July 2 was personally significant to John Adams. The original document is preserved at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.. The resolution is memorialized in places like Independence Hall in Philadelphia and is a focal point of scholarly study by institutions like the American Historical Association. Its principles directly informed the U.S. Constitution and continue to be cited in discussions of national sovereignty and self-determination. The actions of Richard Henry Lee and the Second Continental Congress are dramatized in works like the musical 1776 and are integral to the narrative of the American Revolution presented at historic sites across the United States.

Category:American Revolution Category:1776 in the United States Category:Second Continental Congress