Happy 2nd of July!

It's a badly kept secret among scholars of American history that nothing much really happened on Thursday, July 4, 1776.

Although this date is emblazoned on the Declaration,

the Colonies had actually voted for independence two days earlier;

the document wasn't signed until a month later.

When John Adams predicted that the "great anniversary festival" would be celebrated forever, from one end of the continent to the other,

he was talking about July 2.

"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, Bonfires, and Illuminations, from one End of this Continent to the other, from this Time forward forever more."

~ John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776

Anyway, Happy 2nd of July America!

So why do we celebrate on the 4th? Find out here.