Why America Celebrates Independence Day on July 4, Not July 2

The Continental Congress formally voted in favor of American independence on July 2, 1776, not July 4. However, July 4 became the date associated with Independence Day due to the adoption and signing of the Declaration of Independence on that day. This distinction between the two dates has long been a subject of historical debate among scholars. The gap between the vote and the declaration's adoption explains why the two dates carry different significance in American history.