The Whole Truth Of the 4th of July… No doubt many of us have forgotten the real story of how we came to embrace the 4th of July as Independence Day. So, after reading many stories, I hope you will enjoy this one and think about how important that day is instead of hot-dogs, soda and fireworks!

The 4th of July commemorates the day in 1776 when the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. Rather than a single heroic moment, it was the culmination of a very tense year-long political rebellion; delegates officially severed the 13 American colonies from British rule. The real history behind the holiday involves several surprising facts that contradict popular legend. You may be surprised…so, here goes:

The Vote Happened on July 2nd NOT on the 4th:  The actual, legal vote to declare independence from Great Britain took place on July 2, 1776, following a resolution introduced by Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee. John Adams predicted that July 2nd would be celebrated as the great American holiday for generations to come. Obviously, he was wrong!

No Signatures on the 4th: The Declaration was not signed on July 4th. That day was spent finalizing the text and approving its distribution. The formal parchment copy wasn’t signed by the 56 delegates until August 2, 1776, with some adding their names even later!

Thomas Jefferson was the Primary Author: A “Committee of Five”—consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. They were tasked with drafting the document. Jefferson did the bulk of the writing, which was then edited by Adams and Franklin before being presented to Congress.

Early Celebrations: Spontaneous celebrations broke out on July 4, 1777, in Philadelphia, featuring ship cannon salutes, bonfires, and the first recorded fireworks on the Boston Commons. The tradition spread across the expanding nation rapidly after the War of 1812.

The Founders’ Tragic Coincidence: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson—the only two presidents who signed the Declaration of Independence—both died on the exact same day: July 4, 1826! It was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration’s adoption.

A History of Protest: Not everyone historically viewed the holiday with celebratory cheer. On July 5, 1852, abolitionist Frederick Douglass delivered his famous speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” at an alternative event in Rochester, New York, reminding the nation of the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom in a country that permitted human bondage.

What do you think about this celebrated day? I did a poll with friends and family and most of them said it was a turning point for our country and now we can go forth. Makes sense. Others said they really didn’t know much about how this started but getting a day off, and enjoying hot-dogs and fireworks, that’s great.

My friends from the Navajo nation and our pueblo people that we know well in Arizona and New Mexico will tell you this: “The idea was good but no one wanted those of color or Indians, this was America, made to be white.” Honestly, I cried. Those precious words on the Declaration sadly found the way to bigotry and it still keeps on going. All the people that worked on this for Independence Day forgot that not everyone is white.

So, as you enjoy your July 4th, remember that God is above all things, all people, and all of creation. Share the joy of July 4 with anyone letting them know we live in a country with freedom and that all happened because of God…not you, not me, not the history, it was God and it will always be God! By the way, I’ve wondered on this day if God enjoys a hot-dog and fireworks? Oh Hallelujah, AMEN!