Signer of the Declaration of Independence John Adams predicted, with astonishing accuracy, how the people of the United States would celebrate their independence in generations to come.
But he got the date of the celebration wrong.
By the summer of 1776, anticipation had been building for months that the 13 colonies would declare independence.
“The shot heard round the world” had been fired on the village green in Lexington, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, marking the beginning of war with Great Britain. After that, another battle.
Then in January 1776, Thomas Paine wrote his wildly successful “Common Sense,” powerfully making the case for independence.
In March of that year, Abigail Adams wrote from Massachusetts to her husband John Adams, a delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, “I want to hear that you have declared independence.”
Adams served on a five-man drafting committee for the Declaration that included Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert Livingston of New Jersey and Roger Sherman of Connecticut.
Michael Smith wrote this moving account of the fate that befell many of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence:
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 people who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signatories were arrested by the British as traitors, and… pic.twitter.com/0Kjyc4FJsP— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) July 4, 2023
In mid-June 1776, they were tasked with writing a statement that would justify the colony’s decision to become a separate nation.
On July 1, the Continental Congress reconvened to resolve the issue of independence.
The next day, July 2, Congress considered a resolution offered by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.
“That these United Colonies are, and must be, free and independent States, freed from all allegiance to the British Crown, and from all political relations between them and the State of Great Britain, and must be. , totally dissolved,” the document said. read.
Congress voted to sever ties with the mother country.
“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am sure that it will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as a great Anniversary Festival,” wrote Abigail Adams on July 3.
“It should be remembered, as the day of Liberation with a solemn act towards God SWT. It should be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one end of this continent to the other of this Time forward forever,” he said.
And that’s exactly what happened. It is interesting that his words indicate that Adams saw the United States eventually crossing the entire North American continent.
What Adams didn’t anticipate was July 4, 1776, which was the date America would follow, the day the Declaration was adopted.
The date is clearly visible at the top of the document.
United States Declaration of Independence (1823 William Stone facsimile), ratified July 4, 1776. #Independence Day pic.twitter.com/8QbUQ6j4D6
– Bibliophilia (@Libroantiguo) July 4, 2016
Of course when it was the 50th anniversary of the United States, Adams knew that the 4th of July was a date of celebration.
On July 4, 1826, she and Jefferson were still alive, but in poor health.
Adams wrote the commemorative committee of the Washington, DC Jubilee thanking him for the invitation to be a part of the event but lamenting “my health forbids me to entertain the hope of being able to participate only in the hope of increasing the prosperity of your city.”
Jefferson also sent his regrets for not being able to attend.
“I should, with great joy, have met and exchanged there personal congratulations with the little band, the remnant of the worthy host, who joined us that day, in the brave and doubtful election which would performed for us. the country, between submission or the sword; and has been pleased with the fact that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made,” he wrote.
Then in a final coup, Adams and Jefferson died on the day of the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration.
The great orator and statesman of Massachusetts Daniel Webster observed in his eulogy for Jefferson and Adams, “Poetry itself has hardly ended a famous life, and completed a world-famous career, with its perfection. If we had the power, we would not want to reverse the dispensation of the Divine Providence this.
“You can’t but look striking and extraordinary that these two must live to see fifty years from the date of that action; that must end that year; and then, on the day that has quickly linked forever his own fame with the glory of his country, the sky should be open to receive both people together,” Webster added.
So in death, Adams had insisted that July 4th, not July 2nd, was the date America’s independence should be remembered and praised.
Randy DeSoto is the author of the book “We Hold These Truths” about the impact of the Declaration of Independence throughout the history of the United States.
This article first appeared in The Western Journal.