Eupraxsophy

John Adams was quite resistant to the fourth of July being our Independence Day, since the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Britain technically occurred on July second, which was when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence (which in turn was first suggested in June). That resolution, the Declaration of Independence, was publicly signed on the fourth, and since what occurred on July second was in private, the American people saw the fourth as the true day of independence.

Even more interesting: many historians believe that despite the claim of the Founding Fathers, the Declaration was actually signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776. Coincidentally, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson - the only signers of the Declaration who would later serve as Presidents - died on the same day: July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. 

Anyway, Happy Birthday America!