DeKalb GA News

By the summer of 1776, there was a growing anticipation that the 13 colonies would declare their independence. The war with Great Britain had begun on April 19, 1775, with the "shot heard around the world" at Lexington, Massachusetts. In January 1776, Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" advocated for independence.

Abigail Adams expressed her desire for independence in a letter to her husband John Adams, who was a delegate to the Continental Congress. John Adams served on the committee responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence alongside Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman.

On July 1, 1776, the Continental Congress reconvened to discuss independence. The next day, they considered Richard Henry Lee's resolution declaring that "these United Colonies are... free and independent States." The Congress voted to sever ties with Great Britain.

John Adams wrote to Abigail on July 3 predicting that July 2 would be celebrated as America's great anniversary festival: “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America." He envisioned celebrations with "Pomp and Parade," which indeed became tradition.

However, Americans celebrate July 4 as Independence Day—the date when the Declaration was adopted. By its 50th anniversary in 1826, both Adams and Jefferson were aware of this shift. Both men were invited to a Jubilee commemoration but could not attend due to poor health. They both died on July 4th of that year.

Daniel Webster noted in his eulogy for them: “Poetry itself has hardly terminated illustrious lives... by such a consummation.” He remarked on how extraordinary it was that they lived to see the fiftieth year from their act of signing and then passed away on that significant day.

Randy DeSoto authored "We Hold These Truths," discussing the Declaration's influence throughout U.S. history.

This article originally appeared in The Western Journal.