Tomorrow, July 4, 2026, the United States of America celebrates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence by its founding fathers. Many people may not know, however, that July 4 is not quite the actual anniversary of the USA’s birth as an independent, sovereign country.

The date is July 3, 1776. A hopeful and optimistic John Adams, who would later become the second president of the United States of America, pens a letter to his wife, Abigail Adams. The occasion was the passage of the Lee Resolution by the Second Continental Congress on the day before, July 2, 1776. This resolution declared the independence of the new nation and its intention to sever its allegiance to the British crown (U.S. National Archives, n.d.).  

In this handwritten letter, John Adams looks ahead to a future United States of America, envisioning  

Pomp and Parade, with  Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires  and Illuminations from  one End of this  Continent to the other from this Time forward  forever more” as  ‘succeeding Generations’ celebrate “The Second Day of July 1776,…the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America (Adams, 1776b).  

We see how amazing Adam’s optimism truly was when we consider the magnitude of the drafting and subsequent editing of the Declaration of Independence. The occasion was not exactly one of mirth and joy, but rather one of nervousness and tension as Adams and his colleagues finalized this declaration. They were not just drafting a historical document to be displayed in a museum. Instead, if the revolution was not successful, they were essentially placing themselves in grave danger, as they were committing treason against England, then a world superpower (McKee, 2017). Furthermore, the fighting between the American colonists and the British armies had been ongoing since April 1775 (McKee, 2017). In fact, many in the British public expected that the rebellious Americans would soon calm down and return to loyalty to the British Crown (McKee, 2017).  

John Adams’ optimism and understanding of the pivotal nature of the American Revolution come through fully in a separate, more personal letter to his wife Abigail, also dated July 2, 1776.  (Readers can view both original, handwritten documents at the Massachusetts Historical Society’s Adams Family Papers site.)  In this letter, John Adams writes

Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was  debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed  without one dissenting Colony ‘that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be  free and independent  States, and as such,  they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do’ (Adams, 1776a)

While that “greatest Question was decided” on July 2, 1776, it was two days later, on July 4, 1776, that the actual Declaration of Independence was edited and finalized. This minor discrepancy between history and actuality reminds readers that our collective historical memory is only a construct. Modern-day Americans do not celebrate the day independence was declared (July 2, 1776), nor the day Adams reflected on the gravity of declaring an independent nation. From John Adams’ perspective in his July 3, 1776, letters to his wife, we see that the founders were not only  living through a historical moment that would later be immortalized in textbooks; for them, it was also a time of crisis, deep uncertainty, and, for many,  John Adams included, hope.   

Two hundred and fifty years later, we celebrate the independence of the United States of America on the 4th day of July, the date on which the final edits were completed, and the Continental Congress approved the publishing of the Declaration of Independence. Ultimately, we are reminded that, in America, the written word holds great power. This power was further exemplified by the young nation’s formal and public assertion of freedom, cementing July 4, 1776 as the official birthday of the United States and a date that would be celebrated and observed as a nation 250 years later.  

Whatever day or days you celebrate this milestone event, take a moment to reflect on the courage and determination of those who took the first step in declaring the independence and freedom of the original 13 colonies of the United States of America 250 years ago. If you really want to impress family and friends at this year’s cookout or fireworks show, you can share that this year’s anniversary celebration marks the semiquincentennial of the United States of America. 

References 

Adams, J. (1776a, July 3). Had a declaration [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.  https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/doc?id=L17760703jasecond&rec=sheet&archive=&hi=&numRecs=&query=&queryid=&start=&tag=&num=10&bc=/digitaladams/archive/browse/letters_1774_1777.php

Adams, J. (1776b, July 3). Your favour of June 17  [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/doc?id=L17760703ja&bc=%2Fdigitaladams%2Farchive%2Fbrowse%2Fletters_1774_1777.php

McKee, M. (2017, July 4). British reaction to America’s Declaration of Independence. Headlines From History. https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2017/07/04/british-reaction-to-americas-declaration-of-independence/

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). Lee Resolution (1776). National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/lee-resolution