What Is the Significance of the Date July 4 1776
From Adviceopedia
If you're wondering, "What is the significance of the date July 4, 1776?" you won't be disappointed. The date is very important in the United States' history as a national holiday that celebrates the country's independence. July 4 may not have the same significance as you've always thought; in fact, it wasn't the day the Declaration of Independence was signed, nor was it the day the vote for independence from the British monarchy occurred.
What Is the Significance of the Date July 4, 1776?
What Is the Importance of July 4, 1776?
Congress finally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which meant the thirteen colonies at the time were free from Britain's rule. They were independent states; the United States was born. The Fourth of July is also known as Independence Day because of what the Declaration of Independence's adoption meant for the colonies.
When Was the Declaration of Independence Signed?
Though the document was accepted and printed on July 4, it wasn't actually signed until almost a month later, on August 2, 1776. You can learn even more about the signing at Archives.gov. The actual vote occurred July 2nd, two days before what is now the national holiday.
Who Wrote and Signed the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson gets most of the credit for writing the Declaration of Independence. He was known for his eloquent writing style amongst his peers and he worked on the document from June 11th to June 28th. However, John Adams did much of the editing that it took to inspire Congress to approve it.
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Edward Rutledge were among the men to sign the Declaration of Independence. For a complete list and biographies, visit US History.org. You can also find a complete timeline regarding the document.
Which States Were Involved
At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, thirteen colonies spanned from Maine to Georgia, though their borders were not the same as today's state lines. The complete territory covered what are now Maine, Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, and Rhode Island. Maine was part of the Province of Massachusetts Bay at the time.
Why Was It July 4?
Independence Day could have fallen on July 2, but it took Congress two more days to get the wording of the Declaration of Independence perfect and the document printed up. Once the document was cut and re-worded, it was finally accepted (but not signed). The signing lasted from August to November, according to National Geographic. It was first printed in the newspaper on July 6th and read in public on July 8th in Philadelphia.
When Did the Date Become a National Holiday?
Surprisingly, it wasn't until 1941 that July 4th became recognized as a national holiday. The date was celebrated prior to that, of course, but it wasn't considered a federal holiday.
Why Did the United States Want Independence?
The desire to gain independence from England's control boiled down mostly to two factors: money (in the form of taxes including the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act) and the exploitation of American resources. The colonies had become increasingly self-sufficient, then when the British tried to reassert their power with additional taxes—especially internal taxes like the Stamp Act—the colonists were not happy. At the website, Big Issue Ground you can learn even more details about these reasons.
Was Everyone on the Same Page?
Not everyone was on the same page. Several colonists stayed loyal to Britain and had no interest in independence. They were called Loyalists or Tories.
Was the Date Really Significant?
The next time someone asks you, "What is the significance of the date July 4, 1776?" you'll be able to reply that it is a national holiday based on the day the Declaration of Independence was approved, but that the document was voted for on July 2nd and not signed until August 2nd. You could argue that the significance of the 4th is misplaced based on the voting and signing of the actual document. However, no matter what the chosen date, the significance lies in the United States' rejection of British rulership and its independence.
