“And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives. our fortunes, and our sacred honor,” If the British had doubts about the American colonists’ resolve for liberty, these closing words of the Declaration of independence must have dispelled them. The pledge was convincingly sincere. The patriots meant what they said in proclaiming the colonies “free and independent states.” They were willing to pay the price – and proved this in the Revolutionary War and in other sacrifices. Today, the Declaration – whose 204th anniversary will be commemorated July 4 – stands with the Constitution representing Americas prime cornerstone documents of freedom. Complementing each other, a temi used by John Quincy Adams in a “Jubilee” address April 30, 1839, they symbolize the aspirations of human mind and spirit for a government of and for the people. History records that most of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were welleducated men of means. Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists; 14 were merchants; nine were farmers and plantation owners. They were realists. too. well aware that King George III had denounced all rebels in America as traitors. They knew they were traveling a dangerous path. The independence they proclaimed still had to be secured on the battlefield. Nine signers fought and died from wounds and hardships of the war. ‘Iyvo lost sons in battle, Five others were imprisoned. Homes of 15 were pillaged ” and burned. Vandals and soldiers looted properties of eight. In some cases wealthy men lost everything. The decision for independence had come after long debate as relations with a demanding king steadily deteriorated. On June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution in Congress declaring that “These united colonies are. and of a right ought to be E free and independent states, that they are absolved from any allegiance to the British.” A committee – consisting of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman. Benjamin Franklin and Robert Livingston – was appointed to prepare a statement of the American case, Jefferson drafted the proposed declaration. His paper, with a few changes suggested- by Adams and Franklin. was brought to the floor of Congress June 28. On July 2, the Lee resolution was adopted. .lefferson’s document was debated two days, then adopted. July 4, 1776 with minor changes. After the colonies had won the War for Independence, various groups wanted a constitution to supplant the Articles of Confederation, adopted during the revolution. The Constitutional Convention opened May 25, 1787 in the old Philadelphia statehouse where the Declration of Independence had been signed, It comprised 55 statesmen of rare ability. , Many had helped draft constitutions for their states. George Washington unanimously was elected to preside. The Constitution which resulted from a summer of laborious effort W was called by William Gladstone, English statesman, “the most wonderful work ever struck off by the brain and purpose of man.” Providing for executive, legislative, and judicial branches and additional checks and balances, it was signed Sept. 17, 1787, by convention delegates and was later ratified by the 13 states. Called the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments setting forth certain personal and property rights, were ratified to take effect Dec. 15, 1791. Since then, 16 other amendments have been added. Jefferson once called the new American government “the world’s best hope.” If time endorses that evaluation, two prime reasons undoubtedly will be the spirit of the Declaration of Independence and bulwarks for freedom and justice built into the Constitution.