Part of a series of articles titled The Constitutional Convention: A Day by Day Account for July 1 to 15, 1787.
Previous: July 3, 1787: The Vital Compromise
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National Archives, America's Founding Documents: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration
The...Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America was celebrated here...the train of artillery fired the salute of the Thirteen United States with three times thirteen rounds.
–The Pennsylvania Herald
Wednesday, July 4, 1787: The Convention Today
Delegates to the Convention enjoyed a recess for the Independence Day holiday. For the past month and a half, they had been struggling to create a new government for the United States in the room where the Declaration of Independence had been debated and signed. They must have felt a responsibility—even a burden—to live up to the promise of that moment eleven years earlier. The observance of Independence Day must have had great meaning for many of them. Seven of the Convention delegates had signed the Declaration of Independence, including two members (Franklin (PA) and Sherman (CT)) of the committee which wrote it. Franklin had signed the Treaty in which Great Britain recognized America's independence. Washington (VA) had commanded the army which won the war. Almost all the others had served in the army or on one or more of the committees, conventions, congresses, and state legislatures which had directed the war effort.
Part of a series of articles titled The Constitutional Convention: A Day by Day Account for July 1 to 15, 1787.
Previous: July 3, 1787: The Vital Compromise
Last updated: August 14, 2023