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The Fourth of July is the day America celebrates its independence, but that’s only the beginning of the history behind this storied holiday. It also includes local ties to Gwinnett, Hall and Walton counties.

Is it July 4 or August 2? The discrepancy in the signing of the Declaration of Independence stems from the paper that was used: parchment versus broadside printing paper.

“Statesmen like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin collaborated on drafting the Declaration of Independence in June 1776, and on winning passage of the crucial “Lee Resolution” on July 2,” said Dr. Michael Gunther, associate professor of history, interim history and geography department chair.

By this time, he said, Georgia supported independence and had sent Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton to Congress to sign. At the end of debate over the wording of the Declaration, the final vote was taken on July 4.

A paper copy likely signed only by John Hancock and Secretary Charles Thomson made its way to John Dunlap, a printer, who executed the first broadside printing, added Gunther.

“Despite some evidence to the contrary, most historians maintain that the parchment Declaration was signed on August 2, 1776,” said Gunther. “The act of signing the parchment Declaration that rests in the National Archives today is still shrouded in mystery. Congressmen such as Matthew Thornton and Thomas McKean, who were not present on July 4, signed the parchment. Button Gwinnett likely signed on August 2.”

The value of these documents is eye-opening. Gunther said that a Dunlap broadside fetched over $8M at an auction in 2000.

He added that so few surviving documents have Gwinnett’s signature, which makes them valuable.

“Fifteen years ago, a signed Gwinnett letter sold for over $700,000,” he said.

Today, the influence of the Declaration of Independence continues beyond the document.

“Grounding a revolution against monarchy and empire in statements of universal truths helped inspire later revolutions, including the French Revolution,” said Gunther. “The words of the Declaration propelled a debate about what equality means. The Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and King’s “I Have a Dream” speech all draw on and engage critically with the Declaration of Independence.”

Next year, America celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, called the semiquincentennial, and celebrations are already underway.

“Recent commemorations include the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, “the shot heard round the world”) and Bunker Hill (June 17), as well as the birth of the U.S. Army (then called the Continental Army) on June 14,” said Gunther. “Not since 1976 has there been such an opportunity to celebrate such a milestone.”

Did you know?

• John Hancock’s signature is the largest since he was the presiding officer of the Second Continental Congress.
• Signatures on the document are in geographical order from south to north, which is why Georgia delegates’ signatures appear first on the left side of the parchment.
• In 1818, Georgia named three northern counties, Gwinnett, Hall and Walton, after the Declaration signers.
• On the 50th anniversary of independence on July 4, 1826, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away.

View and download July 4 classroom video and gallery photos.

Photo caption: Dr. Michael Gunther, Associate Professor of History, History and Geography Department Interim Chair, talks about the history of the Constitution and July 4th during his class on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 at Georgia Gwinnett College. Photo by Daniel Melograna/Georgia Gwinnett College.