Caesar Rodney Rides Into History

Two hundred and forty years ago, Delaware's Caesar Rodney was galloping hard through the stormy night to reach Philadelphia in time to cast a crucial tie-breaking vote for American independence. Rodney's 70-mile ride the night of July 1, 1776 pushed Delaware into the pro-independence column and insured the Continental Congress voted UNANIMOUSLY (with one colony abstaining) for America's independence on July 2. The Declaration of Independence would be approved two days later, but it was actually on July 2, 1776 that the Continental Congress voted to "absolve all allegiance to the British Crown" and lay the foundation for the United States of America.