JM, Steve, and Others

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by GarthB

I think you are confusing two votes.

On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted and approved a resolution presented by John Adams and Richard H. Lee that stated: "Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.''

John Adams felt that because of this resolution on this date, and perhaps due in part to his ownership of the resolution, July 2nd would celebrated as Independence Day. However, on July 3rd, the congress then took up debate on the proprosal from the Committee of Five, headed up by Jefferson. This proposal is what we now call the Declaration of Independence and it was indeed passd on July 4, 1776.

So we have two dates. On July 2, congress voted for independence; on July 4 congress approved Jefferson's document.

Since it seemed to be unclear, the Decleration was signed on August 2nd. Voted on July 4th. Independence voted on on July 2nd.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Since it seemed to be unclear, the Decleration was signed on August 2nd. Voted on July 4th. Independence voted on on July 2nd.

You are partially correct. Most of the delegates signed the document on August 2nd. However, Elbridge Gerry, Oliver Wolcott, Lewis Morris, Thomas McKean, and Matthew Thornton were not present on August 2nd and signed on a later date. There is not unanimous agreement as to the date of the final signature, but it was sometime after August 2.

And, despite the order of congress that the document be signed by every member, John Dickinson and Robert Livingingston never signed it.

So, in reveiw, and pay attention, because there WILL be a quiz: A resolution calling for indpendence was voted upon and approved on July 2, 1776. The proposal from the Committee of Five, known as the Declaration of Independence, was voted upon and approved on July 4, 1776. Fifty-two members of Congress signed one of the copies of the document on August 2, 1776. Four members of Congress signed the same copy by an unknown later date. And two members of Congress never signed the document.

Okay, put your notes away and take out a pen and a clean sheet of paper......

(edited to add: Let us not forget, also, that only 12 colonies originally voted for both the resolution of independence and the Declaration of Independence. New York abstained until July 9.)

[UmpJM]

Garth,

Thanks for the history lesson. I know I learned something, which to me is a key indicator that I'm still alive. I'm curious about what level you teach. Although I've never met you, I would guess that you are a fairly demanding teacher and that your students (at least those willing to exert the effort) actually learn something. In my mind, there is no more honorable or valuable vocation. (In case it is not clear, there is not an iota of sarcasm intended in my comments.)

To all who have responded,

Thank you for your assistance with my annual Independence Day quiz. You've given me some good new material.

My children really get a kick out of it - well, OK, they hate it. But, they do know "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"; "Our Lives, Our Fortunes, and Our Sacred Honor"; and a few other things. I promise to leave your names out of it so that you will not have to suffer the disdain I do for engaging in this "tradition".

JM