United States

Happy Independence Day America!

Signing of the Declaration of Independence, painting by John Trumbull in U.S. Capitol

What started it all!

The Declaration of Indpendence (The Stone engraving):

Click here for a Larger Image and for Higher Resolution Images.

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation’s most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson’s most enduring monument. Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental philosophers. What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in “self-evident truths” and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country. Read a complete Transcript of the Declaration of Indpendence here.

Now go out and enjoy the day in true American fashion:

and end the day:

Let Freedom Ring

Other tributes to Indpendence Day:

Michelle Malkin:

The Cotillion’s July 4th gala is up.

Dan at GayPatriot gives the History Channel’s documentary series, The American Revolution, two thumbs up.

Power Line remembers the heroes of Gettysburg Day 2.

Joe Guzzardi has Reflections For Independence Day: Adams, Jefferson, And The Lodi Imam

Val Prieto at Babalu Blog reminds us what this day is all about–read the whole thing.

Scott Johnson on the eternal meaning of Independence Day.

A holiday Carnival of the Recipes.

Blogs for Bush

Captain Ed from Captain’s Quarters

God Bless America