 You'll learn more about this on the website ChristianPost.com. Well, today is July the 9th. Today's your birthday. Happy birthday to you. It was on this date in 1776. The American Declaration of Independence was read aloud to General George Washington's troops in New York. 1868, the 14th Amendment. The Wisconsin Jews were ratified. The amendment was designed to grant citizenship to and protect the civil liberties of recently freed slaves.