Declaring independence from the mother country England was to be celebrated with devotion to God, pomp, parades, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of the United States to the other – forever more. That was how John Adams said the American colonies were to claim their freedom on July 2, 1776.
However, the official declaration day wasn’t until two days later and some historians still debate the official day.