The 1776 Continental Congress voted for independence two days before signing the document
While Americans celebrate independence on the fourth of July, the legal separation from Great Britain actually occurred two days earlier following a pivotal and unanimous vote by the Continental Congress.
The legal birth of American independence actually took place on July 2, 1776. On this day, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence, prompting John Adams to predict that July 2 would be celebrated by future generations as a great anniversary festival.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 2-question quiz