Happy Independence Day!

[Sailor Steve]

Same thing every year, reminding people that the Continental Congress voted for Independence from Britain on July 2nd, not July 4th.

On June 7th Richard Henry Lee proposed a formal Declaration of Independence.

On June 11th Congress appointed the committee to write the document.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the actual draft and presented it to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams on June 21st.

The Committee presented their revised draft to Congress on July 2nd. Congress voted for independence and then settled down to revise the document further. That night John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail:

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 this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.

On July 4th Congress read their final draft and voted to send that version to the printers. The printed version was released to the public on July 5th. At the top of the paper it said "In Congress, July 4, 1776". Not one delegate wrote anything about it in diaries or letters.

So yes, The vote for Independence took place on July 2nd, not the 4th.

[HW3]

Happy Independence Day!

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Same thing every year, reminding people that the Continental Congress voted for Independence from Britain on July 2nd, not July 4th.

On June 7th Richard Henry Lee proposed a formal Declaration of Independence.

On June 11th Congress appointed the committee to write the document.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the actual draft and presented it to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams on June 21st.

The Committee presented their revised draft to Congress on July 2nd. Congress voted for independence and then settled down to revise the document further. That night John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail:


On July 4th Congress read their final draft and voted to send that version to the printers. The printed version was released to the public on July 5th. At the top of the paper it said "In Congress, July 4, 1776". Not one delegate wrote anything about it in diaries or letters.

So yes, The vote for Independence took place on July 2nd, not the 4th.

God, I wish Congress acted that quickly nowadays...




<O>

[Jimbuna]

[Catfish]

So, when to congratulate?

Ah whatever: Happy Independence Day!

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Same thing every year, reminding people that the Continental Congress voted for Independence from Britain on July 2nd, not July 4th.

On June 7th Richard Henry Lee proposed a formal Declaration of Independence.

On June 11th Congress appointed the committee to write the document.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the actual draft and presented it to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams on June 21st.

The Committee presented their revised draft to Congress on July 2nd. Congress voted for independence and then settled down to revise the document further. That night John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail:


On July 4th Congress read their final draft and voted to send that version to the printers. The printed version was released to the public on July 5th. At the top of the paper it said "In Congress, July 4, 1776". Not one delegate wrote anything about it in diaries or letters.

So yes, The vote for Independence took place on July 2nd, not the 4th.

So, technically, the Congress voted for independence, 2 July, but did not make a formal Declaration until the publication of the final draft, 4 July. It seems to fall into the category of making a decision and it not being official until declared...

I'm sticking with the Fourth Of July as official idea...




<O>

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by vienna

So, technically, the Congress voted for independence, 2 July, but did not make a formal Declaration until the publication of the final draft, 4 July. It seems to fall into the category of making a decision and it not being official until declared...

I'm sticking with the Fourth Of July as official idea...

It could also be argued that they didn't make a formal declaration until it was released to the public on the Fifth. Technicalities aside, the Fourth is as good a day as any, especially since that's the date that is on the released document.

Many years later, in letters between them, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both remembered the Fourth as the day they signed the document. The funny part about that is that they didn't actually start signing it until August 2nd.

Even more so was the day they died. Adams, aged 90, and Jefferson, 83, both passed away on July 4th, 1826, fifty years to the day after the official date of the Paper they worked so hard on together. I think that is a main part of what seals it.

[Mr Quatro]

People around here started celebrating Friday June 30th and then I went to the grocery store Saturday and all of the food for picnic's was on sale, even paper plates colored in red, white and blue and 4th of July cups too ...

I still have my collection of glass jars that I wash out so I didn't buy any. Watched the auto race at Daytona and fell asleep waking up for the 153rd lap wreck in progress. I thought it was just a replay, but it had just a happened.

Sunday and Monday have been hot and quite ... I think everyone has left town. Fire works outlawed here due to the chance of fire.

Celebrate the day of Independence for sure, but don't forget the veterans that helped keep us independent

[Sailor Steve]

People have been setting off fireworks here since Friday night. Tomorrow the fun really starts.

[Catfish]

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

...

Many years later, in letters between them, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both remembered the Fourth as the day they signed the document. The funny part about that is that they didn't actually start signing it until August 2nd.

Even more so was the day they died. Adams, aged 90, and Jefferson, 83, both passed away on July 4th, 1826, fifty years to the day after the official date of the Paper they worked so hard on together. I think that is a main part of what seals it.

IIRC, there was little love lost between the two gentlemen and one of them, on his deathbed, not knowing the other was also in his final hours, loudly bemoaned the other would survive him. Now, that was a grudge...




<O>

[Commander Wallace]

Happy Independence day / 4th of July to everyone who celebrates it and to the U.S herself.

[STEED]

Clearly you guys need us Brits back.