Get the family together for a cookout, go buy fireworks and put up a flag or two. It’s time to celebrate Independence Day.
But do you really know what happened on July 4, 1776?
Many people think it’s the day that we declared our independence from the British and the birth of our nation. But it wasn’t.
Here’s a quick rundown of the events leading up to July 4, 1776 and after:
- April 1775 – The start of the American Revolution
- June 1776 – Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence
- July 2, 1776 – The Continental Congress decided to declare independence
- July 4, 1776 – The final document of the Declaration of Independence was written
- August 2, 1776 – The Declaration was signed
- November 1776 – The Declaration was delivered to Great Britain
The Declaration had a creation date of July 4, 1776. In addition, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826.
In 1870, almost a 100 years after the Declaration was written, Congress declared July 4 to be a national holiday.
Everyone at Lantech would like to wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July!
This post was published on July 2, 2014 and updated on July 20, 2015.
July 2, 2014