# July 4, 1776 is a weird date to assign as "America's Birthday" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 28, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461 "2026-05-28T18:29:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/1 "2026-05-28T18:29:35Z")
I know we’re about 249 years too late, but with all of the hullaballoo concerning the 250th anniversary of … something … later this summer, I’m reminded of what a horrible choice of dates July 4 1776 is. For one, nothing happened on that date besides a procedural vote to approve a draft resolution. The actual vote to declare indpendence was two days earlier, and the signing of said resolution took place in bits and pieces, over months, nay years. Truthfully, September 3, 1783, when the Treaty of Paris (which formally granted US indpendence) was signed, makes more historical sense. Or better yet, March 4, 1789, when our current Constitution went into effect. However, for generations American schoolchildren have been taught about July 4, 1776, so I guess we’re stuck with it. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/2 "2026-05-28T18:31:55Z")
It’s right at the top. How could we have chosen any other date? ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/3 "2026-05-28T18:32:24Z")
I’m ok with reassigning it to either of the dates you specified. That way, we avoid Diaper Don’s coopting of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/4 "2026-05-28T18:33:28Z")
There was a poll in the poll thread about this very subject, including your options, IIRC. Vast majority here are okay with 6/4. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/5 "2026-05-28T18:38:01Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > However, for generations American schoolchildren have been taught about July 4, 1776, so I guess we’re stuck with it. Yup. Even if it’s maybe not the “right” day, it’s deeply ingrained in the American psyche now. Good luck changing that. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/6 "2026-05-28T18:43:04Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > It’s right at the top. How could we have chosen any other date? Right. The date of the vote doesn’t matter as much as the date printed on the actual document. [![](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07a/apdeclarationofindependencex1200-1.jpg) ](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07a/apdeclarationofindependencex1200-1.jpg) There are good reasons for other dates, but not as good as the reason for picking the 4th. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/7 "2026-05-28T18:56:44Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Truthfully, September 3, 1783, when the Treaty of Paris (which formally granted US indpendence) was signed, makes more historical sense. Too close to Labor Day weekend. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/8 "2026-05-28T19:02:03Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > The date of the vote doesn’t matter as much as the date printed on the actual document. Right, That is _the_ date. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/9 "2026-05-28T20:24:43Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > However, for generations American schoolchildren have been taught about July 4, 1776, so I guess we’re stuck with it. If March 4, 1789 were chosen, for example, people will argue that it should be July 4, 1776. And vice-versa. It ultimately doesn’t matter. Just pick a date (which we’ve done) and go with it. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/10 "2026-05-28T20:39:55Z")
What I find humorous is that the Florida Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial is ignoring the fact that the Florida colonies remained loyal to the crown. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/11 "2026-05-28T21:12:43Z")
I’m of the opinion that a nation-state is its system of government. By this standard, the adoption of the Constitution is the only date that makes sense for the birth of our nation. And no, the amendments don’t reset that clock, because they were adopted under the system laid out in the previously-existing constitution. It also means, for instance, that China is only 77 years old. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/12 "2026-05-28T21:15:33Z")
I imagine that, either the USA or its Constitution, one or the other, has an expiration date in the next few years. Hopefully it’s the Constitution (to be replaced with a much better one). ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/13 "2026-05-28T22:46:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > By this standard … > It also means, for instance, that China is only 77 years old. And presumably that the UK is not a nation-state at all. Consequently, by this standard, what did the US win it’s independence from? ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/14 "2026-05-28T22:48:06Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Hopefully it’s the Constitution (to be replaced with a much better one). BZZZZ. Nope. Constitutionally for the US it’s turtles all the way down. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/15 "2026-05-29T02:56:13Z")
I’d argue that the move from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution wouldn’t necessarily constitute a change of government, so much as a restructuring. I mean, the shortcomings of the Articles were pointed out by various things, but it wasn’t a collapse of the government like say… the transition between the Fourth and Fifth Republics of France. The name of the country didn’t change, the basic structure of semi-sovereign states under a collective government didn’t change, just the details of how that worked changed. Granted, those details were pretty significant, and the states delegated a lot of their power to the Federal government. Until the 17th Amendment, it was pretty clear that it was a union of states, not a democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/16 "2026-05-29T04:49:26Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > It’s right at the top. How could we have chosen any other date? Yeah, it would be really awkward to celebrate the Fourth of July on some other date. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/17 "2026-05-29T10:18:09Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > > [@HeyHomie](#): > > > > Hopefully it’s the Constitution (to be replaced with a much better one). > > BZZZZ. > > Nope. Constitutionally for the US it’s turtles all the way down. I am not sure what you mean here, but all it takes is 2/3 of the states to organise a new Constitutional Convention and agree a new constitution, or modify the existing one. This procedure is even explicitly mentioned in the current constitution, in Article 5. No need to disband the US. It is true that there is no expiration date mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/18 "2026-05-29T11:10:11Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > all it takes is 2/3 of the states to organise a new Constitutional Convention and agree a new constitution, or modify the existing one. Then for each proposed amendment be passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, then ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states. Can’t imagine why it doesn’t happen every legislative session. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/19 "2026-05-29T11:44:10Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > There was a poll in the poll thread about this very subject, including your options, IIRC. Vast majority here are okay with 6/4. What does “6/4” mean in this context? ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461/20 "2026-05-29T11:48:26Z")
Agreed. I mean, it’s not like we refer to it as “Freedom Day,” or “Articles of Confederation Day,” or “Constitutional Convention Day.” It’s Independence Day and it makes sense to base it on the Declaration of Independence. Though “Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown Day” has a certain pizazz to it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/july-4-1776-is-a-weird-date-to-assign-as-americas-birthday/1030461.md?page=2)