This was from Episode 82, Mary’s Nerd Nugget Fun Facts: The real, legal vote to sever ties with Great Britain actually occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Continental Congress passed the Lee Resolution. However, because it took Congress two additional days to debate, edit, and officially approve the final wording of Thomas Jefferson's formal Declaration document, the July 4th date printed at the top of the parchment became the historic anniversary that stuck.