Fergie's Tech Blog

Happy Birthday, America: The History Of The Fourth Of July

John Adams

If John Adams had had his way, Independence Day this year would be celebrated on a Monday, providing everyone with a three-day weekend. Instead, this holiday celebrating freedom remains subject to the tyranny of the calendar, which this year dictates that Independence Day falls on Wednesday, July 4.

But July 4 was not, in fact, the date on which the Second Continental Congress voted to dissolve the bonds that connected the 13 colonies to Great Britain. Lots of momentous events have occurred on July 4, but that historic vote wasn't one of them.

If anyone could be considered an expert on American independence, it was Adams. The dyspeptic delegate from Massachusetts was the primary advocate for Richard Henry Lee's historic resolution that "these united colonies are and of a right ought to be free and independent States." The resolution was introduced on June 7, 1776. When Congress finally adopted it on July 2, Adams exulted.

"The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha in the history of America," Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, on July 3. "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."

But, due to a technicality, Adams was off by 48 hours.

posted by Fergie @ 7/04/2007 12:01:00 AM