- Local time
- 9:36 AM
- Posts
- 99
- OS
- Windows 11
Ever since 1776 we’ve been calling July 4th “Independence Day”. But does that really make sense?
On 7 June 1776, Congress took a vote and decided that we would declare ourselves independent. It then appointed a committee to write the Declaration of Independence. The committee began the job on 11 June, and finished it on 28 June; but that was only a “first draft”. Congress tweaked it around for a few days, and finally on 4 July they voted to approve the final wording of the Declaration. The various signatures were then placed on it from 19 July through 2 August.
The final copy of the Declaration –– the one that still exists –– has the date “July 4th” at the top, because that’s when that copy was written. And that’s the only reason we celebrate that day. But that and all the other dates above, having to do with the Declaration, were just “technicalities”. The only date of practical importance was the 7th of June, when Congess DECIDED to declare independence. So I’ve always felt that it would make more sense if June 7th was the holiday.
I felt so furious at this outrage, I was going to publicly renounce my citizenship on July 4th and move to Antarctica. But I decided to just forget about it, because it looked like rain that day and I might catch a cold. And anyway I have tickets to a Broadway show for next week.
On 7 June 1776, Congress took a vote and decided that we would declare ourselves independent. It then appointed a committee to write the Declaration of Independence. The committee began the job on 11 June, and finished it on 28 June; but that was only a “first draft”. Congress tweaked it around for a few days, and finally on 4 July they voted to approve the final wording of the Declaration. The various signatures were then placed on it from 19 July through 2 August.
The final copy of the Declaration –– the one that still exists –– has the date “July 4th” at the top, because that’s when that copy was written. And that’s the only reason we celebrate that day. But that and all the other dates above, having to do with the Declaration, were just “technicalities”. The only date of practical importance was the 7th of June, when Congess DECIDED to declare independence. So I’ve always felt that it would make more sense if June 7th was the holiday.
I felt so furious at this outrage, I was going to publicly renounce my citizenship on July 4th and move to Antarctica. But I decided to just forget about it, because it looked like rain that day and I might catch a cold. And anyway I have tickets to a Broadway show for next week.
My Computer
At a glance
Windows 11
- OS
- Windows 11
