Posted on 03. Jul, 2009 by Rob Belatucadros in Education, Events, Politics, Real History, Rob Belatucadros, Top Stories, Tradition
John Adams, in a July 3, 1776 letter to Abigail, after the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 2 in Philadelphia:
The Delay of this Declaration to this Time, has many great Advantages attending it. The Hopes of Reconciliation, which were fondly entertained by Multitudes of honest and well meaning tho weak and mistaken People, have been gradually and at last totally extinguished. Time has been given for the whole People, maturely to consider the great Question of Independence and to ripen their Judgments, dissipate their Fears, and allure their Hopes, by discussing it in News Papers and Pamphletts, by debating it, in Assemblies, Conventions, Committees of Safety and Inspection, in town and County Meetings, as well as in private Conversations, so that the whole People in every Colony of the 13, have now adopted it, as their own Act. This will cement the Union, and avoid those Heats, and perhaps Convulsions which might have been occasioned, by such a Declaration Six Months ago.But the Day is past. 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, Bonfire and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
You will think me transported with Enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil, and Blood, and Treasure that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet, through all the Gloom, I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means, and that Posterity will triumph in that Day’s Transaction, even though We should not rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.
The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. Source>>>
Gotta wonder why the change, why is the fourth celebrated, when according to one of the signers it is the second of July, when the Declaration was signed?
Couldn’t have anyhting to do numerology, or something could it?
The reason that the United States celebrates Independence Day on the 4th of July is simple: That was the day the document was “accepted” by the Congress of the United States. Though it was signed on July 2nd (and, indeed, written between June 16th and July 2nd) the wording of the document was not approved until the 4th.
However, if someone really wants to get picky about it, the real date that should be celebrated is August 2nd, as that was the date that Congress signed their copy and officially declared independence.
Thanx Ed. I still think it has something to do with the numbers too.
Actually the whole reason why we celebrate on the 4th is because that is the day that Congress in a closed session approved the “Declaration of Independence.” The July 2nd date is the date that the Second Continental Congress voted on the Lee Resolution or the “Resolution of Independence,” which was an Act that declared the 13 colonies to be independent from Great Britain.
I would like to add that Woody Holts book on why the Viginians declared Independence that you can find on my Vox site is very well written and a real eye opener as to why the colonies decided to declare their independence, but you really have to read a book on each region to get a full picture of why each region and class of citizens had their very unique reasons for declaring independence.
goodness the authors name is Woody Holton so sorry I had a brain freeze perhaps you can fix the name for me!