Ah! The Glorious Second!!!
Today is the 233rd anniversary of the secession of 13 British North American Colonies from the Empire, thus creating the United States of America. However, the celebration is on the fourth. Why is that? Well, you have to go back to 1776 to find out...
John Dickinson was a patriot. He in fact voted for a resolution demanding the overthrow of the Royal Governments of the 13 rebellious colonies of North America, but he thought that it wasn't the right time for a republic and opposed the resolution that had been introduced by Virginia a couple of months before, so unlike the heroic (but wrongheaded) stand he is seen taken in the musical 1776 (to be seen on Turner classic Movies 10 PM EDT Saturday night), he was convinced to just not show up that day, and he didn't.
A preamble to the first resolution, which was written by Massachusetts delegate John Adams, in fact, was an informal declaration, and that's why several state delegations voted against it. So, to some extent, independence had been legally achieved (depending on who you were talking to) the previous May, but these things have to be formalized. As the Declaration was hammered out by a select committee (Thomas Jefferson with three others looking over his shoulder), there was a great deal of back room negotiations, with Dickinson demanding that Articles of Confederation come first, and Adams demanding that Independence come first. On June 30th, the document was ready, and debate began. Then voting began the next day. The vote at close of business on July 1st, 1776: yea 9, nay 1, and not voting 3.
South Carolina's nay vote was reversed the next day; Caeser Rodney of Delaware, though gravely ill, arrived in the nick of time to sway his colony in the yea direction; Pennsylvania's Dickinson didn't show up, and patriot and financier Robert Morris decided to abstain. The vote was now 12 to 0 to 1.
Now about that 1:
New York's delegation was completely in favor of independence, however, the state legislature had refused to issue instructions, so they didn't vote. It was unanimous, sort of. Most of the East Coast of North America was now a federal republic. Adams prophesies that July the Second would become a national holiday celebrated with picnics and fireworks.
July 3rd was dedicated to ripping Jeffersons' draft declaration apart, and that went on until the middle of the next day, when it was voted on, and sent to the printers. Thus, the Fourth of July -- when the deed was made public -- not the Second -- when it was done -- is the date for the holiday.
So drink two toasts to Liberty, one today and one on Saturday! Huzzah!
Follow Eric Lurio on Twitter: www.twitter.com/messy1
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It is amusing to note as a Brit the great series such as 'Rebels and Redcoats' on PBS that depict that the actual munitions that the revolutionary militiamen fought with were mainly supplied by King George to protect them against the Indians. It also shows that the 'gentle' attitude of the Brit military leaders allowed recovery and retreat to Washington, many times along the way. Thank heavens that America was not dealing with the Spanish Conquistadors who were much more brutal?
There are facts, and then there is religion!
"Today is the 233rd anniversary of the secession of 13 British North American Colonies from the Empire, thus creating the United States of America. However, the celebration is on the fourth. Why is that?"
Have you never heard of inflation?
7/3/09
1:34am
Florence, SC
Why would the 2nd be celebrated if the document was only a draft and had not been voted on?
You write that,
"July 3rd was dedicated to ripping Jeffersons' draft declaration apart, and that went on until the middle of the next day, when it was voted on, and sent to the printers."
I'd rather wait for the real thing.
Second that.
Fourth that.
never heard it quite like this , I am a history fan. I never heard of dickinson till I watched the hbo miniseries adams, which is great but very long winded. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney were great in it.
nice story. thanks.
Looks like the New York State legislature hasn't changed much in 223 years.
John Adams, writing a letter home to wife Abigail:
3rd July 1776
... 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.
You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.
Cite web page as: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776, "Had a Declaratio
http://www
We Americans like to exaggerate. The 2d of July, 1776 may have been the day the 13 colonies gave the UK the brush & said ta, ta but our founders decided to double 2 & say we became independent on July 4, 1776. Quit your bitching; have you ever considered what could have happened if Thomas Jefferson had raised 1776 to the 1000th power? We would still be part of the UK. We would have been forced to free all of our slaves in 1833, when the UK abolished slavery. There are a lot of what if's.
Maybe somebody has written a book about what would have happened if what is now the USA would have remained part of the UK or British Empire & was still part of the Commonwealth recently, say with-in the last 2 years.
This could be the right time to write a historical fiction novel about how North America would have fared if what is now the USA hadn't become independent of the UK in the 18th century or ever.
Saturday is the 12th anniversary since Harvey Fierstein was killed by aliens while stuck in traffic.
Great chunk of history. Thanks for that!
Facinating story.
Thanks.
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