From History.comย A little about The Fourth Of July:
The Fourth of July โ also known as Independence Day or July 4th โ has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
On June 7, when theย Continental Congressย met at theย Pennsylvaniaย State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, theย Virginiaย delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the coloniesโ independence.
Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Leeโs resolution, but appointed a five-man committee โ includingย Thomas Jeffersonย of Virginia,ย John Adamsย ofย Massachusetts, Roger Sherman ofย Connecticut,ย Benjamin Franklinย of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston ofย New Yorkย โ to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.
On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Leeโs resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 โwill be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festivalโ and that the celebration should include โPomp and ParadeโฆGames, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.โ
On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.
But did you know…..
John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826โthe 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
