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Expert: Fourth of July lore not accurate

Posted on: Saturday, 4 July 2009, 14:58 CDT

Common lore Americans connect with the Fourth of July is inaccurate because the main celebratory points took place two days prior, a British historian says.

Cultural history Professor Peter de Bolla of King's College at Britain's Cambridge University said in a Los Angeles Times story published Saturday that while the Fourth of July is commonly tabbed as Independence Day, July 2 would actually be a more accurate day to celebrate.

July 2, 1776, was the day colony delegates voted at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to seek independence from Britain, de Bolla said.

The history professor said July 4, 1776, was simply the day officials from the 13 colonies chose to make their July 2 ruling public.

The Fourth of July and the Founding of America author also said in the Times the physical document embraced nationwide as the Declaration of Independence is likely not the original document signed on that historic day.

The current copy of the declaration is likely a hand-copied version of the original document that was signed later by the famed delegates as well as new congressional delegates, de Bolla said.

Source: United Press International

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