by John Adams was a member of the Committee of Five that were charged by the Second Continental Congress with drafting the Declaration of Independence. The other four members were Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. The document they produced was formally presented to Congress on June 28, 1776 and was approved by a vote the Second Continental Congress on July 2, 1776. It underwent minor revision and the final version that we know today was adopted on July 4, 1776.
In a letter to his wife Abigail dated July 3rd, Adams wrote on the Declaration and the voted resolve of the Congress of the preceding day:
The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
I suggest that we follow the advice of John Adams and celebrate the Declaration of Independence by going shooting.
Did my part, shot a 1000yd F-class match this morning, but what I want to know is, WTF is a "shew"?
@nguyenhm16: A shew is an old spelling for a SHOW.