Justin Andress
14. Independence Declared on July 4th
If John Adams were alive today, he’d be surprised that we have parades and fireworks on July 4th. Although most of us think that is the day when America first declared independence against the British, it’s not quite accurate. The Congressional Congress actually voted for independence two days prior, on July 2, 1776. John Adams noted in his writings that July 2 would be the date to remembered, saying that day would be: “The most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival… It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” A revised version (the Declaration of Independence we all know and love) was adopted on July 4th and dated as such, but it wasn’t actually signed by all congressional delegates until August 2. That iconic date wasn’t really celebrated for quite some time, only becoming a public holiday about a hundred years later in 1870.
