The Nationalists were in a majority in the Continental Congress of June 1776. Richard Henry proposed the resolution of American independence, which was seconded by John Adams. A five-member committee was made to declare the American independence, which included Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sermon and Robert Livingston. On July 2 1776, the Congress ratified the independence proposal and declared the independence of America on July 4, 1776. The declaration of independence said, “We do understand the facts clearly that all men are born equal and the creator has adorned them with indivisible rights, in which the major ones are search for freedom in life and comfort. Thus, we the representatives of the United States of America, to obtain all those born rights which are given to people of free countries, declare the independence.” With this declaration, the American colonies became independent.