I hate being "That Guy", but sadly it's the profession that I've chosen. Part of being a history teacher is being the one who spends his days explaining to students why many of the things they've learned as children are, in fact, inaccurate. Notice I didn't say that they weren't true, but rather inaccurate. I once had a professor tell me that "In the study of history there is no truth. There are only facts." Therefore, today I need to be "that guy" and explain to you that the United States of America did not declare its independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. No, sadly the day we all celebrate as our nation's birthday, the original Brexit, is inaccurate.
In 1776, Founding Father 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 Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more." Here we have a member of the Continental Congress, collaborator with Thomas Jefferson, signer of the Declaration of Independence, future ambassador, Vice-President, and President of the United States predicting that July 2nd would be fondly remembered for generations to come. Was something wrong with Mr. Adams' calendar? Why would he make such a claim. The reason is simple: The United States of America declared its independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776. On the day in question the Continental Congress voted to accept a resolution put forth by Virginian Richard Henry Lee which read "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." There you have it. So why all the fuss about the fourth? Why aren't our Twitter feeds filled with #HappyJuly2nd as John Adams predicted? The answer has to do with professional spotlight thief Thomas Jefferson. On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress of the now independent United States of America voted to accept Mr. Jefferson's (highly edited) Declaration of Independence as the official statement of independence to be distributed throughout the country and the world. And no, all of the founding fathers did not sign it on that day, it was just a vote regarding a document; albeit a brilliant and world-changing document. In short, July 4th was the day that Congress decided to inform King George III of our official breakup. The message of the Declaration is clear: "Things aren't working out. It's not me, it's YOU!" Over time, different groups of Americans began to celebrate Independence Day as July 4th. The first recorded celebration took place on July 4, 1783 just after the end of the Revolutionary War. As for Mr. Adams, he and fellow founding father and frenemy Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration. So, is July 4, 1776 America's birthday? Of course it is. Americans have accepted this as true for more than 200 years and that is what is important. Nevertheless, this truth is a bit inaccurate.
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Derek Trent AshcraftA place to discuss, among other things, politics, culture, food, faith, and nonsense. Archives
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