As we approach our nation’s 250th Birthday over the weekend, we thought we would tap into what was happening today, July 1, 1776.

It was arguably the most stressful and pivotal day in the history of American independence—even more so than the 4th. Here’s what was happening:

1. The Great Debate
The Second Continental Congress reconvened at the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall). On the floor was the Lee Resolution, which stated that the colonies “are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” John Dickinson of Pennsylvania gave a powerful, hours-long speech against independence, arguing that the colonies were “braving the storm in a skiff made of paper” and weren’t ready for war. John Adams rose to give the rebuttal. Though no transcript exists, witnesses described his speech as “the power of thought and expression” that moved the room toward revolution.

2. The Failed “Preliminary” Vote
At the end of the day, a trial vote was taken to see where the colonies stood. The results were disastrous for those hoping for a united front; 9 Colonies voted Yes. 2 Colonies (Pennsylvania and South Carolina) voted No. Delaware was deadlocked (split 1-1). New York abstained because they hadn’t received instructions from home. Because the delegates wanted a unanimous vote to show Great Britain they were a single, unbreakable front, they postponed the final vote until the next day, July 2.

3. Caesar Rodney’s Midnight Ride
Realizing Delaware was deadlocked, delegate Thomas McKean sent a frantic message to the third Delaware delegate, Caesar Rodney, who was at his home 80 miles away. Upon receiving the news on the night of July 1, Rodney began a legendary midnight ride through a thunderstorm to reach Philadelphia in time to break the tie the following morning.

4. Military Tension in New York
While the politicians debated in Philadelphia, the war was becoming very real in New York City. General George Washington was watching the British fleet arrive in New York Harbor. On July 1, more than 100 British ships were sighted off Sandy Hook—the largest expeditionary force Great Britain had ever sent abroad. The contrast was stark: 50 men in a room in Philadelphia were declaring independence while 30,000 British soldiers were preparing to stop them by force.

If you had asked a delegate on the evening of July 1, 1776, if the United States would exist by the end of the week, many of them would have been too worried about the “No” votes and the British Navy to give you a confident answer.