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Article: Declaring Independence: This year, the Declaration of Independence celebrates its 225th anniversary. But in 1776, no one was sure if it would ever be written. (American History Play).
- Article from:
- Junior Scholastic
- Article date:
- October 29, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Looking back today, the American Revolution may seem like a historical event that had to happen. But to colonists in 1775, independence from Britain was anything but certain.
When the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in May 1775, fighting had already broken out between British troops and colonists at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. But delegates to the Congress could not agree on declaring independence.
A rag-tag collection of colonists was battling the most powerful nation on Earth. Many thought the Americans had little chance of victory.
One group of delegates, led by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, were ...