United Colonies of North America

#OTD, July 9, 1776, General George Washington orders that the Declaration of Independence is to be read to the troops.  General Orders, 9 July 1776...Head Quarters, New York... ...The Honorable the Continental Congress, impelled by the dictates of duty, policy, and necessity, having been pleased to dissolve the Connection which subsisted between this Country, and Great Britain, and to declare the United Colonies of North America, free and independent STATES: The several brigades are to be drawn up this evening on their respective Parades, at six o'clock, when the declaration of Congress, shewing the grounds & reasons of this measure, [...]