July 4th is the day Americans celebrate the Declaration of Independence, but it was two days earlier on July 2, 1776 that the Second Continental Congress actually voted to declare Independence.
Independence had been debated in June 1776, and June 11th it was decided to postpone a vote until July 2, 1776 in order for states to ensure they favored such a vote. Also on June 11, 1776 the Committee of Five was formed, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, to draft up a Declaration of Independence.
On July 2, 1776 debate proceeded and a vote for independence took place. The Continental Journal recorded the following in that day's session of the Continental Congress1 (emphasis added).
The Congress resumed the consideration of the resolution agreed to by and reported from the committee of the whole; and the same being read, was agreed to as follows:
Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and, of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connexion between them, and the state of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole; ∥and, after some time,∥ the president resumed the chair. Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison reported, that the committee have had under consideration the declaration to them referred; but, not having had time to go through ∥the same,∥ desired leave to sit again:
The Committee of Five had yet to finish a final draft, and requested leave to sit and finish their work, but the decision was made, Independence from Great Britain had been decided. No fanfare or celebration followed, only the orderly business of the rest of the day. However, it was not lost on these men what they had done, they became traitors to the crown punishable by death, but they knew they sewed the seeds for an entirely new way of government, self government man would not rule man, man would rule himself.
On July 3, 1776 John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail a letter and wrote the following;
Yesterday the greatest question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, and as such they have, and of right ought to have, full power to make war, conclude peace, establish commerce, and to do all the other acts and things which other states may rightfully do." You will see in a few days a declaration setting forth the causes which have impelled us to this mighty revolution and the reasons which will justify it in the sight of God and man. (morning letter)2
The second day of July, 1776, will be 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, shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever. (evening letter)2
But make no mistake, it was this day July 2, 1776 the Founding Fathers in the Continental Congress decided to Declare Independence, the die was set. The United States was born, as it decided to cut off it bonds with Great Britain and set their own path and future for themselves.
1: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(jc00523))
2: http://www.founding.com/founders_library/pageID.2145/default.asp
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