Although the bigger and bolder sister who has always stolen the spotlight (and rightly so) The Declaration of Independence was the formal document to the masses (a press release if you will) as to just what The Continental Congress was up to and why but IT WAS NOT the document that declared us free of the British Crown.

That document was The Lee Resolution, "The Resolution for Independence", introduced to the Continental Congress on June 7, 1776 by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. Voting was initially delayed for 20 days or so in order for states like South Carolina and New York to send home for new instructions from their legislatures on just how their states wanted to proceed with this development. Meanwhile T Jefferson and his buddies began work on the much bigger document in case the resolution passed.

Voting was scheduled for July 1, 1776 but was postponed until July 2 so that South Carolina could firm up its delegates support to unanimity and a midnight ride through a thunderstorm be made to Delaware to bring back Caeser Rodney to break the yay/nay tie in the Delaware delegation.

On July 2 two delegates from Pennsylvania , including John Dickinson, "called in sick" feeling that they could not support the break from England but did not want to be the only ones obstructing a unanimous vote. New York had not yet received new instructions from its legislature and thus, although present, abstained from voting.

The final tally that day was 12 states in favor of independence, none against and one abstention. The resolution passed.

The document that actually declared our independence from Britain and created The United States of America reads thus:

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.

So reported The Pennsylvania Evening Post that day:

This day the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS declared the UNITED COLONIES FREE and INDEPENDENT STATES

and The Pennsylvania Gazette the next:

Yesterday, the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS declared the UNITED COLONIES FREE and INDEPENDENT STATES.

And prompted a giddy John Adams to write to wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

Debate over the wording of The Declaration of Independence would continue for another two days until it was adopted July 4, 1776. Several hundred copies were rush printed (as rushed as could be back then) then these Dunlap Broadsides were distributed to the colonies and the first public reading of The Declaration of Independence happened on July 8, 1776 in the courtyard of The Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall), as well as in Easton, Pa. and Trenton NJ.

But by then it was a fait accompli. Independence had been declared with The Lee Resolution, we were at war with Great Britain and men like Hancock and Jefferson and Franklin and Samuel Chase and Benjamin Rush and the Adams boys were considered traitors and brigands who faced a horrific end if it all went sideways.