1 post tagged “john adams”

So today is ACTUALLY the day that was supposed to be Independence Day.  Why, you ask?  Well, I'll tell you... and show off my crazy Declaration of Independence knowledge...

Without making a long story short, July 2nd is actually the day that the 2nd Continental Congress passed the Resolution for Independence.

John Adams actually wrote to his wife, Abigail, the following on July 3, 1776:

"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. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward, forevermore."

So, John Adams sort of came up with the idea of the "4th of July" but it was supposed to be "the 2nd".  So why do we celebrate the fourth?  It isn't for sure known.  There were a lot of things that happened in the day between... there were some rewrites, changing of words, and they had to make it all "pretty".  The 4th was, as history tells us, the first day it was read to the public... not really the day it was "signed".  The copy you see in the Archives wasn't signed until like August 1776... but we won't get into that.

So Happy 2nd of July Everyone!  Beers and burgers for ALL!