Today marks the 235th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That’s right, for those of us in the US, today is Independence Day!

That declaration was signed a year into a blood war and it was followed by another five, finally ending with the Battle of Yorktown. It was another two years until the Treaty of Paris officially ended the war, Britain recognized independence of the United States, and the last of the British troops were removed from US soil.

It wasn’t until 1787 that the Constitution was written. The document they produced was a dangerous experiment, yet it has stood the test of time. What they established was a government that, unlike their contemporaries, did not rely on bloodlines or divine right to rule, but instead required a mandate from the people. They established a government where any citizen (at that time restricted to white landowning men) of suitable age could hold public office regardless of religion. Soon thereafter, with the adoption of the Bill of Rights, the freedoms of speech, the press, and free exercise of religion were codified along with a prohibition on government endorsement of religion. By the close of the 18th Century the United States was firmly established as the first secular nation in human history.

With that in mind, I hope you enjoy some cold beer, a hot dog, and some fireworks and have a happy Fourth of July!