On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution in the Continental Congress for Independence from Great Britain:

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.

That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.

Sources: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/sources/revolutionary-documents/the-lee-resolution/; Vol. V, Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, Washington D.C.: US Government Printing Office (1904) at p. 425, accessed at https://archive.org/details/us_congress_continental/lljc005/page/425/mode/2up; https://civicsforlife.org/richard-henry-lee-the-revolutionary/

Today, June 7, 2026, Stratford Hall, Richard Henry Lee’s home in Virginia commemorated the 250th Anniversary of Lee’s Resolution for Independence. https://www.stratfordhall.org/virginiaresolved/