It was 248 years ago this week that Founding Father John Adams correctly predicted how Americans would celebrate the birth of The United States.
On July 3, 1776, only one day after the Continental Congress voted for Independence, Adams wrote a letter to his wife and listed the ways he believed this monumental date would be remembered.
“It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this time forward forever more,” wrote Adams.
Yes, the future president predicted that we would be going to Independence Day Parades, playing games, attending shows (“shew” is an old form of show) and seeing fireworks.
“John Adams really believed there would be celebrations in the streets with a lot of pomp and circumstance around Independence Day,” said author and D.C. tour Guide, Rebecca Grawl. “I think he was spot on with that prediction.”
Grawl pointed out that Adams thought it was a day for great celebration.
“He believed Americans would come together to acknowledge this momentous occasion that he and the other Founding Fathers had worked so hard for: Independence,” Grawl said.
As accurate as his prediction was, Adams did get one important part wrong: He thought the celebrations would occur on July 2.
While yes, it was on July 2, 1776, that the Continental Congress voted for Independence, the delay to July 4 was due to the Declaration of Independence.
According to the National Archives, the Declaration of Independence, drafted mostly by Thomas Jefferson, and edited by his colleagues in the Continental Congress, was adopted two days later.
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