Today is July 4, American Independence Day. On this date in 1776…not much happened. The document had been completed two days earlier. As John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail: “July 2nd will be the most memorable epoch 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.”
Okay, so he was two days off. Actually the final vote to declare independence and ratify the document did happen on July 4. The assembly then sent the declaration out to the printers and adjourned for lunch. At which time everyone went home to get ready for the British to invade Pennsylvania and politely hang them. Most signatories waited until August 2 before putting their names on the document and it would be a little while after that before the British court got around to reading it.
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