I know what you’re thinking. July 4th is Independence Day. While yes, it’s true that we celebrate the birth of our nation on July 4th, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress and the United States of America was subsequently conceived, it’s not when independence was actually declared. What if I told you American independence was actually achieved on July 2, 1776, instead of the 4th?

Mind blowing, right? To think, we’ve been grilling meats, downing beers and enjoying fireworks on the wrong day for 238 years. Allow me to explain.

After convening two Continental Congresses and enduring perpetual debates on whether or not to separate from Great Britain, a committee was appointed to draft a declaration. Five were chosen, most notably Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, and two other dudes people don’t care to remember (Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston).

Jefferson, known more for his prose than oratory, did the majority of the writing while Adams and Franklin lent their hands in editing and revising.

 

On June 28, a draft of the Declaration of Independence was considered by the Congress and it would be amended profusely until July 4th, as noted by the Library of Congress. In fact, Jefferson’s draft would be shortened substantially, by almost a fourth. One of the more striking passages to have been removed was the assertion that the British crown in essence forced the American colonies into the practice slavery – an intriguing claim by Jefferson, a known slave owner.

South Carolina, Pennsylvania and New York were the colonies most unsure about independence, and it took some serious persuasion. The Pennsylvania delegation, in fact, was split on the decision though the majority favored independence and so the colony as a whole ultimately voted in favor.

South Carolina’s representative, 26-year old Edward Rutledge also eventually consented leaving New York as the only colony not to vote. They instead opted to abstain until further instructions were relayed by New York’s state assembly.

Therefore, two days before John Hancock scribbled his famous, well, John Hancock on the most highly-esteemed document in American history, a vote was called for a matter of independence.

According to David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize winning book John Adams, “So, it was done, the break was made, in words at least: on July 2, 1776, in Philadelphia, the American colonies declared independence.”

John Adams even wrote to his wife Abigail that “The second day of July 1776 will 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.”

Right idea, John, wrong day.

“It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more,” continued Adams in his letter.

So yeah, the celebratory aspect of his prediction came true as pretty much everything he mentioned takes place on the Fourth of July – the day the wording of the Declaration of Independence was approved and sent to the printing press.

In actuality, then, we’re celebrating American freedom two days later than we should. Don’t let that deter you from your patriotic party plans, though. Feel free to share them in the comments section below.

Turns out, we celebrate Independence Day two days later than we should.
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