RenoVous

  July 2, 1776 The Continental Congress votes for independence from Britain, formally adopting Richard Henry Lee's resolution from Great Britain.  Only New York abstained. This had been received on June 7, but the Congress delayed a vote while they drafted their own Declaration.  John Adams expected this to be our Independence Day, but it wasn't until July 4 that Jefferson's edited version was adopted. July 4, 1777 was celebrated as the first anniversary of our independence.

  Today has long been celebrated in black communities and households, but only recently has the whole of the country recognized the importance of this second independence day. The Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery as of January 1, 1863.  But not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free.  It was not until Union soldiers arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas on June 19, 1865 that those in the westernmost Confederate state were decreed free. The following period, known as Reconstruction, marked an era of great hope - African Americans were inspired to transform their lives and their country.  The historical legacy of this day, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is the value of never giving up hope. Here  the museum offers some resources to "embrace the rich history of Freedom Day." When Nevada became a state in 1864, slavery was abolished, but African Americans were unable to vote until the 15th amendment wa...

  On this day in 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall starts with the opening of passage between East and West Germany.  Shortly thereafter, celebrating Germans began using hammers and chisels to tear it down. The decision came after Hungary opened their border with Austria, which meant people would be able to get from East to West anyway. The wall had been erected overnight in 1961 - the people of Berlin woke up one morning unable to get to the other side for work or family.  Over the years, those in West Germany thrived under capitalist economic conditions, while those in East Berlin lived with difficulty under Communist rule.  Many defected, and others demanded free elections and a free market system. In 1990, Germany became a single state again.  Gorbachev had encouraged the actions of East Berlin, and the destruction of the wall is considered one of the most significant actions to ending the Cold War. Ronald Reagan is considered "one of the most instrumental p...