New Yorkers in 1776

 The 250th Anniversary of the Declaration gives us a chance to remind ourselves and our friends, family and neighbors that the Declaration of Independence was about more than just breaking away from Britain. It was a redefining of our relationship with our government.  It was about our founding fathers telling the government that the government doesn’t tell the people what to do - the people tell the government what to do.  

While New Yorkers don’t get recognized for their role in drafting and passing the Declaration of Independence, four New Yorkers did sign it on August 2, 1776: Francis Lewis, William Floyd, Philip Livingston, and Lewis Morris.  Robert Livingston didn't sign but served on the Committee that drafted the Declaration. This year, as we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independencd

Our Founding Fathers changed the relationship of the people to their government with these simple words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"