Happy July 4th…But is it really Independence Day?

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved and ratified the Declaration of Independence.   The legal separation from England and rule under the British crown actually occurred two days earlier on July 2nd after Congress, in a closed session, voted for independence. 

Each colony had between two and seven in their Continental Congress delegation, with each state receiving one vote.  A vote for independence needed to be unanimous to pass.

On July 1st, nine colonies voted in favor of the resolution for independence. Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted in favor of remaining part of the British empire. And New York abstained due to not having the proper authorization to vote for independence. While Delaware’s vote was deadlocked between its two delegates.

The following day, South Carolina and Pennsylvania reversed their vote in favor of independence was Delaware was still deadlocked with a 2 to 2 delegate vote. Caesar Rodney of the Delaware delegation traveled eighty miles the previous night through a driving thunderstorm to arrive in Philadelphia just as the vote was beginning, giving Delaware and independence the  final “yes” vote.  With the New York delegation unable to vote, the vote was unanimous with one state abstaining. 

The wording of the Declaration of Independence was approve two days later on July 4th and  copies were printed and widely distributed. Even thought July 2nd was the true day of independence, the public accepted July 4th, the date listed on the Declaration of Independence, as Independence Day.

In 1870, Congress declared July 4th as a legal holiday for federal employees but without pay. In 1938, federal employees were paid for the day off. And in 1941, DC government employees were added by Congressional  legislation. 

Long May She Wave….

Happy Independence Day!!

Images -  Yankee Doodle – public domain, flags from personal collection – ©2009, Jon Rochetti 

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