July 4, 2025
Declaring Our Independence From Kings
On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from the imperial rule of Great Britain and declared their intent to be an independent nation. Two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence.
Did You Know:
Just a few years into the founding of our country, Thomas Jefferson warned us about corruption and tyranny from within our newly formed government. This isn’t the first time our country has faced tyranny, oligarchy and corruption, but it is the first time that these forces have such massive power.
In 1785 Jefferson warned that:
The public money and public liberty, intended to have been deposited with three branches of magistracy, but found inadvertently to be in the hands of one only, will soon be discovered to be sources of wealth and dominion to those who hold them… They [the assembly] should look forward to a time, and that not a distant one, when a corruption in this, as in the country from which we derive our origin, will have seized the heads of government, and be spread by them through the body of the people; when they will purchase the voices of the people, and make them pay the price. Human nature is the same on every side of the Atlantic, and will be alike influenced by the same causes. The time to guard against corruption and tyranny, is before they shall have gotten hold of us. It is better to keep the wolf out of the fold, than to trust to drawing his teeth and talons after he shall have entered. (emphasis added)
Why It Matters:
The wolf has entered the fold. We were warned, but we didn’t heed the warning. It is now up to ‘we the people’ to declare another independence from the corruption that has seized the heads of government.
What You Can Do:
Spend some time today and over the weekend reflecting on what you love most about this country and what makes your heart heavy in this moment. Reflect on what it means to be a free people. What are the freedoms that we have lost and what more do we stand to lose if we don’t take a stand against this corruption and tyranny? Be a voice for truth. Every act of naming is an act of courage. Make use of our conversation guide and share it with others.
Take the time to read the Declaration of Independence over the weekend in between the fireworks and backyard picnics. Make a commitment to stay informed and engaged in the political process, if not for yourself than for the generations that will come after you. Our democracy is in peril. It’s up to us to preserve and protect it.
Our hearts are heavy at H4D, but we are committed to continuing to resist the attacks on our democracy. We have work to do, and we are honored that you are with us on this journey.
Remember to join us in our Summer of Solidarity, gather some sunflowers and flags for your picnic tables and remember that joy is a form of resistance.
Yours in Independence,
The H4D Team