At issue that day - July 2, 1776 - in the Continental Congress was whether the Thirteen Colonies would finally, officially break with Britain and go their own separate ways from George III and Parliament. Without that vote (twelve Colonies voted in favor, while New York abstained), there would have been little point to Congress then commencing debate over the final wording of the Declaration of Independence which had been submitted to them by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Benjamin Franklin. So as you celebrate the 4th of July remember that but for the significance of July 2, 1776, the Fourth of July would be for us what it is for the rest of the world...just another day, to be foolishly taken for granted.

Leave me a comment on my web site about what the 4th of July means to you. How does your community and/or your family celebrate our most patriotic holiday? Do you have any special memories of the 4th of July? Please share them with us.

Do you enjoy trivia? Here are a couple questions for you. Please post your answer on the web site. Now, don’t use any external help to get the answer. See how good your grasp of history is.

1.) Who Were the Only People to Actually Sign the Declaration on July 4th?

2.) What was the name of General Washington's faithful regiment of Massachusetts mariners who had helped him escape from Brooklyn Heights and manned his boats at the Battle of Trenton?

- Copperhead Regiment
- Light Dragoons
- Minutemen Regiment
- Marblehead Regiment

On this date in 1776:

On July 2, 1776, the American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain when the Continental Congress finally approved (with twelve colonies voting yes and New York abstaining) this resolution:

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 connexion between them, and the state of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

That evening, the Pennsylvania Evening Post printed this notice: "This day the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States."

Answers to July 1 Trivia Questions:

1.) What was the location of a series of battles that became the turning point for the Revolutionary War?

- Trenton
- Saratoga
- Long Island
- Yorktown

Answer:  Saratoga

This series of battles, won by the colonists, proved that the American army could defeat the British and encouraged other European countries to consider helping American in the Revolution.

2.) What did Paul Revere really say as he rode through Lexington Green?

Answer:  "The Regulars are coming. The Regulars are coming." People think he said "The British are coming!  The British are coming!" But he didn’t because he and many others were British and they referred to the British troops as "The Regulars."