The Lee Resolution: On July 2nd, the Continental Congress formally adopted the resolution for independence put forth by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.
A Near-Unanimous Vote: This vote for independence passed with near-unanimity, with only the New York 🙄delegation initially abstaining (though they later voted affirmatively).
John Adams' Anticipation: John Adams, a key figure in the movement for independence, believed that July 2nd would be the day celebrated as the birth of American independence, envisioning celebrations with
"Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations".
