The Annual July 2nd Post

Hello everyone, and welcome to the annual July 2nd post!

John Adams was the first Vice President of the United States. He was also the second President of the United States. Unfortunately for his legacy, he was also the first “one termer” President. Oh well, you can’t win ’em all.

Of equal significance, he was also a Masshole! My Peoples!

Prior to being elected to a Federal office (prior to the existence of “Federal” as a political concept), John Adams was a delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress. As such he is also a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Given all that, it’s safe to say that President John Adams knew a thing or two about Independence Day. Included in what he knew, was that our Nation’s birthday, the literal Independence Day was July 2, 1776. Not July 4, 1776. If Adams had gotten his way, all of the United States would be at the beach having cookouts today instead of two days from now.

Why?

July 2nd was the date that the Continental Congress voted to declare themselves independent from Great Britain. July 4th was the day that they ratified the document that spelled out their reasons for declaring independence, what we now call The Declaration of Independence. According to Adams, when the document was ratified, we had already been independent for two whole days. He pushed to have Independence Day celebrated on July 2nd, not July 4th.

Given that it is roasting hot outside and all of us are stuck here at work, I am fully in agreement that July 2nd should be the day we celebrate our nation’s birth. In other words, I wanna go home!!!!