Going Forth On The 2nd
By Bob Small
John Adams believed, July 2, was the date to be celebrated as “ the great anniversary festival.” This was because July 2 was the date that delegates at the second Continental Congress meeting approved a meeting for independence. It was approved by 12 of the 13 colonies.
The New York delegation had to abstain as they did not have the necessary permission to vote from their state.
From his letter to his wife Abigail written on July 3, “It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations “
July 4 was the date of the adoption, though not signed, by members of the Continental Congress.
However, not until July 8 did Philadelphia hold a parade and the firing of guns in celebration of the moment.
The Declaration of Independence was not signed by any of the delegates until early August, after “being engrossed on parchment by Timothy Matlack, a Philadelphia beer bottler who had fine penmanship ”
Fifty-six delegates eventually signed it.
For information on viewing the Declaration of Independence and other documents locally, see Museum of the American Revolution.
Historian Pauline Maier, in her 1997 book, American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence said that in early July 1777 that there had been almost a year since they declared their independence from the British
Maier also said that “arguments over the how to celebrate the Declaration arose between the Federalists (of John Adams) and the Republicans (of Thomas Jefferson) and that the Declaration and its anniversary day weren’t widely celebrated until the Federalists faded away from the political scene after 1812. “
See also, from across the pond: John Adams was right, July 2nd is really America’s …
History, as they say, is “written by the victors” or, in this case, the last on the field.
Will future historians pontificate on the first Trump term versus the second Trump term.?
Going Forth On The 2nd