Should We Really Celebrate the Fourth of July?

Each year Americans all over the country celebrate our national birthday on the Fourth of July, or what we have come to call Independence Day. This celebration recalls that time in 1776 when representatives of the thirteen colonies agreed that it was officially time to end what they considered to be the tyrannical rule of King George III and the British. To accomplish that end they gathered together as a Continental Congress, created and then signed a document known as the Declaration of Independence. Since then we have celebrated our independence and our nationhood with parades, fireworks, flag waving and all manor of festive occasions. But do we have it right? History suggests that we definitely should be celebrating Independence Day, but casts a shadow on our selection of dates. Should we really celebrate the 4th of July?

July 2, A Good Alternative. While we have traditionally celebrated Independence Day on July 4, the research of historical writing and journals seems to indicate an earlier date in July might be more appropriate for our annual celebration. Meeting in the summer of 1776, in Philadelphia the delegates from the 13 colonies , after considerable debate, had nearly reached an agreement . On July 2, 1776 when the members came together, two delegates from Pennsylvania absented themselves from the proceedings of the day. Their absence meant that when a vote was taken on the Declaration of Independence their colonial delegation would be left with a majority voting for the Declaration. The end result was that when the final vote was taken by colony it was a vote of 12-0 with no state opposing the Declaration and only New York abstaining from the vote.