The Second Continental Congress passed the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776, before adopting the Declaration of Independence.
Introduced by Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee, the resolution proposed that the United Colonies should be free and independent states. Congress approved that central independence measure after extended debate, making July 2 the date of the formal independence vote.
The Declaration of Independence followed as a written explanation of the decision. Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, and that date became the celebrated national anniversary. The document stated the political reasons for separation and presented principles about rights and government.
The Lee Resolution is sometimes overshadowed by the Declaration because July 4 became the public holiday. John Adams, who supported independence, even predicted that July 2 would be remembered as a great anniversary. In practice, the document’s printed date and later traditions made July 4 the enduring celebration. The two dates therefore describe related but distinct actions by Congress.