1. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee's resolution that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." This momentous decision paved the way for the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence two days later.

2. York, Pennsylvania served as the temporary capital of the United States from September 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778, during the American Revolution. As such, July 2, 1777 marked the first Independence Day celebrated in York, with a parade and other festivities.

3. On July 2, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Union General Dan Sickles made a bold and controversial move by advancing his troops beyond their assigned position in the Peach Orchard. The move led to heavy casualties on both sides but ultimately helped to stall the Confederate advance.

4. Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator and civil rights leader who founded the National Council of Negro Women, was born on July 2, 1875 in Mayesville, South Carolina. In 1935, she established the Bethune Foundation in Darby, Pennsylvania to help support her nonprofit work.

5. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), which regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages in the state, was founded on July 2, 1933 as a result of the repeal of prohibition. Despite ongoing controversy surrounding its operations, the PLCB remains a significant player in the Pennsylvania economy and culture.