What Founding Documents Prove About the True Birth Date of the United States

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Q1: Why do Americans celebrate July 4 instead of July 2?

Delegates voted for independence on July 2, 1776, but the Continental Congress approved the specific, final language of the Declaration on July 4. Early broadsides distributed across the colonies bore the July 4 dateline, cementing that day in the public consciousness.

Q2: Was the United States a single country between 1776 and 1789?

Under the Articles of Confederation, the states behaved primarily as sovereign allies bound by a treaty rather than citizens of a consolidated federal republic. The modern, unified political structure was not codified until the Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789.

Q3: Which founding year does the Supreme Court reference for legal authority?

The Supreme Court traces the constitutional authority of the federal government to 1789. While the Declaration of Independence is recognized as an organic law of the United States in the U.S. Code, it does not confer legal rights or governmental powers in judicial rulings.