On this day 250 years ago in Williamsburg, the Virginia Convention

Resolved, unanimously, That the Delegates appointed to represent this Colony in General Congress be instructed to propose to that respectable body to declare the United Colonies free and independent States, absolved from all allegiance to, or dependence upon, the Crown or Parliament of Great Britain; and that they give the assent of this Colony to such declaration, and to whatever measures may be thought proper and necessary by the Congress for forming foreign alliances, and a Confederation of the Colonies, at such time and in the manner as to them shall seem best . . . .

Resolved, unanimously, That a Committee be appointed to prepare a Declaration of Rights, and such a plan of Government as will be most likely to maintain peace and order in this Colony, and secure substantial and equal liberty to the people.

The delegates to the Virginia Convention and the people of Williamsburg considered this resolution to be Virginia’s declaration of independence. After the resolution was adopted the British flag was removed from the cupola of the Virginia Capitol and that night there were fireworks and celebrations across the town.

Sources: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/const02.asp; https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/sources/revolutionary-documents/virginias-independence-resolution-may-15-1776/; https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/virginias-fifth-revolutionary-conventions-resolutions-for-independence-may-15-1776/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusta_Declaration

Today and tomorrow, May 15 & 16, 2026, Colonial Williamsburg will be commemorating the 250th Anniversary of Virginia’s Resolution calling for Independence from Britain. https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/events/the-flame-of-revolution-5th-va-convention/

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress adopted this resolution

Whereas it appears absolutely irreconcilable to reason and good
conscience for the people of these colonies now to take the oaths and
affirmations necessary for the support of any government under the
crown of Great Britain, and it is necessary that the exercise of every
kind of authority under the said crown should be totally suppressed
and all the powers of government exerted under the authority of the
people of the colonies, for the preservation of internal peace, virtue
and good order, as well as for the defence of their lives, liberties
and properties against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations
of their enemies: therefore
Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective assemblies
and conventions of the United Colonies, where no government
sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs hath been hitherto estab-
lished, to adopt such government as shall in the opinions of the
representatives of the people best conduce to the happiness and
safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general.

The Continental Congress requested that each of the thirteen colonies separate their governments from Great Britain — and effectively declare themselves Independent. This Resolution would have an immediate impact on the government of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. That night the Philadelphia Committee of Inspection and Observation held a meeting to gather signatures on a petition to suppress the newly-elected Pennsylvania Assembly because it had been organized under the authority of the British Crown crown. The Philadelphia Committee with the support of the Committee of Privates was asking for the powers of government to be exerted under the authority of the people of Pennsylvania.

Sources: Journals of the Continental Congress at pp. 342, 357-58 accessed at https://archive.org/details/us_congress_continental/lljc004/page/356/mode/2up; https://www.jstor.org/stable/2139954?seq=16; Hogeland, William, The Hamilton Scheme: An Epic Tale of Money and Power in the American Founding, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2024) at 97-98; https://journal.c2er.org/history/aoc-module-2-the-philadelphia-goings-on-sam-john-adams-and-thomas-paine-at-work/