On July 4, 1776, England's American colonies declared their independence from their mother country, the first such declaration in world history. This extreme measure was the resolution of the Continental congress, a group of men representing America's thirteen separate colonies, which had convened many months before in Philadelphia to consider grievances against the British Crown and to debate a course of action. Two months before the adoption of the declaration, the majority of the delegates were still supporting reconciliation. But the perseverance of Adams, Jefferson and Franklin finally prevailed, culminating in the writing by Jefferson and the signing by all of the Declaration of Independence. This is the story of those two months.