THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JULY 2, 1776

On this day in 1776, a group of committed revolutionaries, the Second Continental Congress, assembled in Philadelphia and formally adopted Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence from Great Britain. The vote was unanimous, with only New York abstaining.

The resolution had originally been presented to Congress on June 7, but it soon became clear that New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina were as yet unwilling to declare independence, though they would likely be ready to vote in favor of a break with England in due course. Thus, Congress agreed to delay the vote on Lee's resolution until July 1. 

In the intervening period, Congress appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration of independence. Its members were John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. Jefferson, well-known to be the best wordsmith of the group, was selected to be the primary author of the document, which was presented to Congress for review on June 28, 1776.

On July 1, 1776, debate on Lee's resolution resumed as planned, with a majority of the delegates favoring the resolution. Congress, however, felt that independence should be unanimously proclaimed. To ensure this, they delayed the final vote until the following day, when 12 colonial delegations voted in favor of it, with the New York delegates abstaining, unsure of how their constituents would wish them to vote. (The British army had captured Staten Island the day before as a prelude to occupying New York City and the surrounding area.)

In a letter to his wife, Abigail, written the next day, John Adams forecast that generations of Americans would celebrate July 2nd:

"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."

Of course, July 4, the date Jefferson's edited Declaration of Independence was formally adopted and published, became Independence Day rather than July 2.   Adams and Jefferson remained lifelong rivals.  Ironically, they both died on the same day - July 4, 1826 - within hours of each other (although he died without realizing it, Adams did manage to outlive his rival).  C'est la vie...

John Adams