By Ray DiLorenzo Washington's Revolutionary War flag The Pine tree reflected the colonists’ belief that when human government fails, they have the right to seek justice from God. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to formally vote to declare independence from Great Britain. The vote of the states was 12 yes, 0 no, and 1 abstention. New York failed to vote because its delegates claimed they lacked direction from their state government. After the vote, the delegates...