Fact Check: The U.S.A.'s real birthdate is September 3, 1783, not July 4, 1776.

Fact Check: "The U.S.A.'s real birthdate is September 3, 1783, not July 4, 1776."

What We Know

The claim that the United States' "real birthdate" is September 3, 1783, stems from the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence from Great Britain. This treaty was signed on September 3, 1783, and marked the conclusion of a lengthy conflict that began with rising tensions in the 1760s and escalated into war in 1775. However, the United States declared its independence earlier, on July 4, 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, severing political ties with Britain (History of Independence Day, The Declaration of Independence, 1776).

John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers, famously predicted that July 2, 1776, would be celebrated as the day of independence, but it was July 4 that became the recognized date due to the adoption of the Declaration (History of Independence Day). The Declaration of Independence articulated the colonies' motivations for seeking independence and formally announced their status as a separate nation (The Declaration of Independence, 1776).

Analysis

While September 3, 1783, is indeed a significant date in American history as it marks the formal end of the Revolutionary War, it does not serve as the "birthdate" of the United States in the same sense as July 4, 1776. The Declaration of Independence is considered the foundational document that established the United States as a sovereign entity. The adoption of this document is what allowed the colonies to seek alliances, such as with France, which were crucial for their success in the war (The Declaration of Independence, 1776, The Declaration of Independence: A History).

The assertion that September 3, 1783, is the "real birthdate" may stem from a misunderstanding of the significance of both dates. The Treaty of Paris confirmed the independence that had already been declared in 1776. Thus, while both dates are important, they represent different milestones in the history of the United States.

The sources used to support the claim, such as articles from the National Park Service and the Office of the Historian, provide context for both dates but do not support the idea that September 3, 1783, should be considered the primary birthdate of the nation (History of Independence Day, The Declaration of Independence, 1776). Instead, they affirm that the Declaration of Independence is the document that marks the founding of the United States.

Conclusion

The claim that the U.S.A.'s real birthdate is September 3, 1783, is False. While September 3 marks the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, the actual declaration of independence occurred on July 4, 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. This document is widely recognized as the birth certificate of the United States, establishing the nation’s sovereignty and its foundational principles.