On This Day in History: The United States Declares Independence

On 2 July 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Great Britain. Two days later, the body got around to approving a public announcement of its decision. Since that Declaration had the current date in large letters at the top of the document, the fourth of July has always been celebrated in the press and eventually became a national holiday. However, the date of the vote declaring independence was July 2, not July 4.