So what actually happened 244 years ago on July 4th 1776?
Most Americans probably know it has to do with the Declaration of Independence…the document that declared our independence from Britain.
But did you know that the holiday could have been July 2nd instead of the 4th?
John Adams thought July 2nd would be the date that would be celebrated because that’s the date the Continental Congress voted to declare independence.
But it wasn’t until July 4th that the actual document known as the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, was approved.
So that’s why the date on the document says July 4th 1776. And that’s why we celebrate it on the 4th and not the 2nd.
Not a big deal really.
The big deal is what the Declaration of Independence said, that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights….that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness…”
And this year, being a time when we are deeply examining these words about equality and rights, the Declaration of Independence is something to remember and celebrate not just on the 4th of July, but every day of the year.
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