On July 4, 1776, the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was approved. But what happened on July 5? I did a bit of Internet digging to find out! The Declaration was given to a printer by the name of John Dunlap. He then made 200 copies of the document to send throughout the colonies. (This first batch of copies are called the “Dunlap Broadsides.”) Even before the copies reached the colonies, word had spread and people were celebrating.
My learning from this little investigation is that the Declaration of Independence wasn’t actually signed until August 2, 1776! So if you have any leftover fireworks, that’s the day to use them.
I hope you had a fabulous Fourth of July weekend!