This is the ninth in a series.

July 2, 1776 was the day the Continental Congress in Philadelphia voted in favor of independence from Great Britain. Two states – Delaware, which had two delegates divided, and New York, which lacked instructions – remained silent.

The next two days were spent editing and debating Thomas Jefferson’s declaration. It wasn’t until the 4th of July the document was ready for a final vote.

Caesar Rodney, from Delaware, wrote home that day saying he had arrived in Philadelphia just in time.

“I arrived in Congress (though detained by Thunder and rain) time enough to give my voice in the matter of…