On This Day - July 4, 1776

It was a hot, sweltering day in the Philadelphia conference room when members of the second Continental Congress approved a document that was destined to change the course of world history, the American Declaration of Independence. The doors and windows were closed to keep the meeting secret and most of the delegates wore heavy coats and wigs. Although the outside temperature was comfortable, 76 degrees at 1 pm according to WeatherBug, the delegates had to have been dripping with sweat in the confined space of the Assembly Room in what’s now known as Independence Hall. The room measured only 4...