July 2, 1776

[G-MAN]

On June 7, 1776, acting on instructions from the Virginia Convention, Richard Henry Lee put forth a resolution to the Second Continental Congress proposing that the 13 colonies declare their independence from Great Britain. The Lee Resolution came to a vote on July 2, 1776--the date John Adams thought would forever be memorialized as Independence Day for the United States.

Here is the reenactment of that vote from the movie "John Adams."

 

[thunderfog]

If you've never read the Declaration of Independence, it's short... give it a look.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

Better yet, read it (particularly the list portion of it) while listening to Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It". It's pure gold.

 

[possum328]

Well done G-MAN, thank you.

 

[hattaresguy]

They didn't sign it all at once either, July 4th is somewhat of a meaningless day really, history is funny that way.

 

[strat81]

Would it be more appropriate for us to celebrate on April 19th instead of July 4th?


A pet peeve is people referring to July 4th as "the 4th of July". It's Independence Day, not any other day on the calendar (historic disputes not withstanding).

I don't tell people to have a good December 25th or January 1st, and I won't tell them to have a good July 4th. These dates have names attached to them.

 

[Rick in PA]

I marvel at what our founding fathers did. Many of them surprisingly young. They laid a solid foundation for our nation. A foundation that has stood the test of time. It is truly amazing how it adapts to our changing reality.