Independence Declared!

July 2, 1776, the 2nd Continental Congress declared our independence.

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, formally adopted the Lee Resolution (also known as the Resolution for Independence). This was the decisive vote declaring that the Thirteen Colonies were “free and independent States.”The Lee Resolution: Introduced by Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee on June 7, 1776, the resolution 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.

It also called for forming foreign alliances and preparing a plan of confederation.

The handwritten Lee Resolution (as recorded by Congress Secretary Charles Thomson).

The July 2 Vote: A preliminary vote on July 1 showed some opposition (South Carolina and Pennsylvania against; Delaware tied). Overnight changes secured the outcome on July 2:

• South Carolina switched to support independence.

• Two Pennsylvania delegates arranged to be absent (allowing the delegation to vote in favor).

• Delaware delegate Caesar Rodney made a famous overnight ride through a thunderstorm to break the tie in his colony’s delegation.

Result: 12 colonies voted yes; New York abstained (its delegates lacked instructions from home). The resolution passed unanimously among the voting colonies. That same evening, the Pennsylvania Evening Post reported:
“This day the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS declared the UNITED COLONIES FREE and INDEPENDENT STATES.”

July 4 vs. July 2: Two days later, on July 4, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence (primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson), which explained and justified the decision to the world. While July 4 became the celebrated date, many at the time — including John Adams — considered July 2 the true day of independence. Adams wrote to his wife Abigail the next day:

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.”

So on this day in 1776, the Continental Congress took the bold step that formally severed political ties with Great Britain and created the United States. The famous Declaration followed shortly after as the public explanation of that act.