Which body voted for American independence on July 2, 1776, before adopting the Declaration two days later?

The Second Continental Congress voted for American independence on July 2, 1776, before adopting the Declaration two days later.

The Second Continental Congress was the revolutionary assembly that represented the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War. It met in Philadelphia and assumed responsibilities that included diplomacy, military organization, finance, and decisions about the colonies’ political future.

On July 2, Congress approved the Lee Resolution, which declared that the colonies should be free and independent states. The Declaration of Independence then explained and justified that decision. Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, which is why Independence Day is celebrated on that date rather than July 2.

This distinction is a common source of historical confusion. John Adams believed July 2 would become the great national anniversary, but July 4 became the enduring civic holiday because it marked adoption of the Declaration’s text. America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 therefore highlights both dates in the sequence of independence.