Key Events

June 7, 1776

  • Second Continental Congress started to discuss independence.

  • "Lee Resolution"

  • Richard Henry Lee, a representative from Virginia, read a plan for the Continental Congress.

July 2, 1776

  • Second Continental Congress chooses to announce independence.

  • The Lee resolution was selected by 12 of the 13 colonies.

  • Congress started to think about the Declaration.

July 4, 1776

  • Representatives signed the Declaration of Independence.

  • The Declaration was officially embraced.