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Independence Day

 
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Who: the Second Continental Congress
What: the Declaration of Independence
Where: Philadelphia
When: July 4, 1776
Why: to declare the Thirteen colonies "Free and Independent States... Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown" of King George III.

The Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

With these memorable words, Thomas Jefferson, at the age of 33, laid the cornerstone of the United States of America. Though the Declaration of Independence, or, as it was known at the time, "The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America," holds no legal standing, it stands at the head of the US Code. The signed copy resides in the National Archives in Washington, DC.

Fifty years later, in an 1825 letter, Jefferson wrote that the Declaration of Independence was designed as "an appeal to the tribunal of the world." The document was therefore "intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion," and the fledgling state was thus introduced to the nations among which it was destined to assume its rightful place.

To lay the moral foundation for revolution, the Declaration of Independence invokes the principle of natural rights, which is strongly identified with John Locke (particularly in Two Treatises of Government, 1690). These are the basic rights of which each individual is possessed, and of which he cannot be stripped by society or government. In Jefferson's formulation, the "pursuit of happiness" was substituted for Locke's more specific "health" and "possessions."

An enlightened reader might wonder about the contradictory relationship between natural rights and the institution of slavery. Indeed, Jefferson's initial draft included the following among the offenses laid at the doorstep of King George III:

He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life & liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither.

This clause was edited out in order to secure the votes of the southern delegates. Nevertheless, the Declaration of Independence has been cited as the inspiration for such causes as abolition, universal suffrage and civil rights.

The document goes on to list "a long train of abuses and usurpations" perpetrated by King George III that led to the decision "to throw off such Government." After all, "A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

Let no one imagine that the decision was rashly undertaken. During the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, most colonists had no thought of political separation from their homeland. But they grew increasingly alienated by unjust treatment: "Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury." And it wasn't only the monarch who was unresponsive: "Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren... We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity... They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity."

It is noteworthy that the adoption of the Declaration of Independence took place against the backdrop of ongoing Revolutionary War hostilities. When the signers affixed their John Hancocks upon the document they were jointly laying their lives on the line, since there was a bounty on the revolutionaries' heads:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

When Benjamin Franklin said, upon signing the Declaration of Independence, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately," it was no less than the literal truth.

Fifty-six men were signatories to the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence that Congress ordered to be made on July 19, 1776. John Hancock, as president of Congress, was first, and he famously wrote his name front, center and large. He and 49 others signed on August 2, 1776, in geographic order of the colonies they represented, from north to south. They signed with ink from the Syng inkstand, currently on display at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Six other signatures were added later, the last one, that of Thomas McKean, in 1781.

The story of the birth of the United States is thrilling and inspiring, full of heroes and their words and deeds. Can you identify these men, statements, and events:

Stamp Act Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts Continental Congress
No taxation without representation Give me liberty, or give me death!
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere Battles of Lexington and Concord
George Washington Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys
Battle of Bunker Hill Battle of Saratoga
John Paul Jones Benedict Arnold
Valley Forge Battle of Yorktown
Marquis de Lafayette Treaty of Paris

Celebrations then and now

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 shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.
— John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776 (referring to the day before, when the resolution for independence was passed)

Adams' words were prescient, even though he was off by two days. As the news spread, celebrations began immediately. In that first year they featured readings of the Declaration of Independence in public places, accompanied by the firing of muskets and cannon. The statue of King George in New York was torn down and its lead turned into bullets. Everywhere were military parades, bells ringing, toasts, fireworks, music and "loud huzzas." In 1781, the legislature of Massachusetts became the first to officially designate the Fourth of July as a holiday commemorating the birth of independence; in 1783 — the year the Revolutionary War formally ended — the governor of North Carolina followed suit.

Nowadays, celebrations include such all-American activities as picnics and barbecues (featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, potato salad and apple pie), baseball games, races and contests, parades with marching bands and Revolutionary War-era costumes, reenactments of historical events, concerts featuring patriotic songs, fireworks at dusk, and more.

Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious and ever memorable day, be celebrated through America, by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more. Amen, and amen.
— Virginia Gazette, July 18, 1777
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Dictionary: Independence Day
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n.

July 4, celebrated in the United States to commemorate the adoption in 1776 of the Declaration of Independence. Also called Fourth of July.


US Military Dictionary: Independence Day
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1. also called Fourth of July a U.S. holiday observed every July 4 to commemorate the adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Although observance of the holiday began in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, the day was not made a legal holiday until 1941. Traditionally it is celebrated with parades, fireworks, patriotic speeches, and picnics.

2. a day celebrating the anniversary of national independence.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Independence Day
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Anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress (July 4, 1776). It is the greatest secular holiday in the country. Celebrating the day became common only after the War of 1812. Thereafter, civic-minded groups worked to link the ideals of democracy and citizenship to the patriotic spirit of the day.

For more information on Independence Day, visit Britannica.com.

US History Encyclopedia: Independence Day
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The adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776 has caused that day to be taken as the birth date of the United States of America. Strangely, the commemoration of the Fourth of July received its first big impetus and had the pattern set for its celebration before the event even came to pass. On 3 July, John Adams wrote to his wife:

The second day of July, 1776,…Iamaptto believe … 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 shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.

Adams was thinking of the resolution of independence adopted on 2 July as the pivotal event, but the Declaration of Independence soon completely obscured the resolution.

The first anniversary does not appear to have been commemorated throughout the thirteen states, but there were elaborate celebrations in the principal cities, and parades, the firing of guns, the ringing of bells, decorations, illuminations, fireworks, and the drinking of toasts constituted the chief features in every instance. The practice of commemorating the Glorious Fourth soon spread widely, particularly after the adoption of the Constitution. As the years went by, some of the early features of the celebration declined or disappeared entirely, such as the thirteen guns and thirteen (or thirteen times thirteen) toasts. Meanwhile, sports and games, which at first were only a minor part of the festivities, became the greatest attraction. In country regions, the Fourth of July became a day for picnics, with exhibitions of skill in such contests as potato races, watermelon eating, and catching the greased pig, without much thought of the Declaration of Independence. Since 1777, fireworks, great and small, have held a prominent place. In the early 1900s, serious efforts were made to promote safety in Fourth of July celebrations, and in ensuing years the personal possession of fireworks has been outlawed in many states.

Bibliography

Bodnar, John, ed. Bonds of Affection: Americans Define Their Patriotism. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1996.

Ellis, Joseph J. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. New York: Knopf, 2000.

Maier, Pauline. American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. New York: Knopf, 1998.

Spotlight: Independence Day
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From our Archives: Today's Highlights, July 4, 2006

On July 4, 1776, 230 years ago today, the Second Continental Congress adopted its Declaration of Independence from Britain. With that, the United States of America was born. US President Calvin Coolidge was born on this date in 1872, and three presidents died on this date: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, in 1826, and James Monroe, in 1831. The Statue of Liberty was presented to the US in Paris on this date in 1884 and Katherine Lee Bates published "America the Beautiful" on July 4, 1895. And on this date in 1960 America's current fifty-state flag was first waved, as Hawaii had achieved statehood the previous summer.
 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Fourth of July
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Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. It has been the most important patriotic holiday ever since. Traditionally it has been celebrated with the firing of guns and fireworks, parades, open-air meetings, and patriotic speeches. Today local ordinances prevent much of the former display of fireworks and use of firearms.

History Dictionary: Independence Day
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The primary national holiday in the United States, celebrated every July 4; the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Customary festivities include picnics; parades; band concerts; decorations in red, white, and blue; and nighttime fireworks displays.

Wikipedia: Independence Day (United States)
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"Fourth of July" redirects here. For the date, see July 4. For other uses, see 4th of July.
Independence Day
Independence Day
Displays of fireworks, such as these over the Washington Monument, take place nationwide.
Also called The Fourth of July
The Glorious Fourth
The Fourth
Observed by United States
Type National
Significance The day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress
Date July 4
Celebrations Fireworks, Family reunions, Concerts, Barbecues, Picnics, Parades, Baseball games

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.[1][2][3]

Contents

Background

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.[4] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

“ The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch 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 shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.[5] ”

Adams' prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.[6]

One of the most enduring myths about Independence Day is that Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.[7][8] The myth had become so firmly established that, decades after the event and nearing the end of their lives, even the elderly Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had come to believe that they and the other delegates had signed the Declaration on the fourth.[9] Most delegates actually signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.[10] In a remarkable series of coincidences, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the United States and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to become president, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary. President James Monroe died exactly five years later, on July 4, 1831, but he was not a signatory to the Declaration of Independence.

Observance

An 1825 invitation to an Independence Day celebration
  • In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.[11]
  • In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.[12]
  • In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.[12]
  • In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.[12]
  • In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled "The Psalm of Joy".
  • In 1791 the first recorded use of the name "Independence Day" occurred.
  • In 1820 the first Fourth of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine which remains the largest in the state.[13]
  • In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.[14]
  • In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.[15]

Customs

New York City's fireworks display, shown above over the East Village, is sponsored by Macy's and the largest[16] in the country.
Independence Day, 1940 Promotion.ogv
Patriotic trailer shown in theaters prior to the 4th of July, 1940.

Independence Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people.

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades often are in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever", and, regionally, "Yankee Doodle" in northeastern states and "Dixie" in southern states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit traffic transfers many fireworks from less restrictive states.

A salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a “salute to the union,” is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable military base.[17]

In 2009, New York City had the largest fireworks display in the country, with over 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploded.[16]. Other major displays are in Chicago on Lake Michigan; in San Diego over Mission Bay; in Boston on the Charles River; in St. Louis on the Mississippi River; and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. During the annual Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, Detroit, Michigan hosts one of the world's largest fireworks displays, over the Detroit River, to celebrate Independence Day in conjunction with Windsor, Ontario's celebration of Canada Day.

While the official observance always falls on July 4th, participation levels may vary according to which day of the week the 4th falls on. If the holiday falls in the middle of the week, some fireworks displays and celebrations may take place during the weekend for convenience, again, varying by region.

Unique or historical celebrations

Originally entitled Yankee Doodle, this is one of several versions of a scene painted by A. M. Willard that came to be known as The Spirit of '76. Often imitated or parodied, it is a familiar symbol of American patriotism.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "National Days of Countries". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. New Zealand. http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Embassies/2-Foreign-representatives-to-NZ/National-Days.php. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
  2. ^ Central Intelligence Agency. "National Holiday". The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2109.html. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
  3. ^ "National Holiday of Member States". United Nations. http://www.un.org/en/members/holidays.shtml. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
  4. ^ Becker, p. 3.
  5. ^ "Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776, ‘Had a Declaration…’". Adams Family Papers. Massachusetts Historical Society. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/aea/cfm/doc.cfm?id=L17760703jasecond. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
  6. ^ Maier, Pauline (7 Aug 1997). "Making Sense of the Fourth of July". American Heritage. http://www.america.gov/st/pubs-english/1997/August/20050606131757pssnikwad0.3779871.html. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
  7. ^ Warren, Charles (July 1945). "Fourth of July Myths". The William and Mary Quarterly. 3d 2 (3): 238–272. 
  8. ^ "Top 5 Myths About the Fourth of July!". History News Network. George Mason University. 30 June 2001. http://hnn.us/articles/132.html. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
  9. ^ Burnett, Edward Cody (1941). The Continental Congress. New York: W.W. Norton. pp. 191–96. 
  10. ^ Becker, p. 184–85.
  11. ^ Heintze, “The First Celebrations.”
  12. ^ a b c Heintze, “A Chronology of Notable Fourth of July Celebration Occurrences.”
  13. ^ Maine.info. (2008). 4th of July in Maine. Retrieved on February 6, 2009 from http://www.maine.info/July4.php
  14. ^ Heintze, “How the Fourth of July was Designated as an ‘Official’ Holiday”.
  15. ^ Heintze, “Federal Legislation Establishing the Fourth of July Holiday”.
  16. ^ a b Biggest fireworks show in U.S. lights up sky, USA Today, July 2009.
  17. ^ "Origin of the 21-Gun Salute". U.S. Army Center of Military History. http://www.history.army.mil/faq/salute.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
  18. ^ "History". Rebild Society website. Rebild National Park Society. http://www.rebildfesten.dk/default.asp?pageId=48&mainId=9&lang=UK. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
  19. ^ "2009 Macy's 4th of July Fireworks". Federated Department Stores. 2009-04-29. http://www.fds.com/pressroom/macys/macysnational/media_kits.asp?mediakit=318. Retrieved 2009-07-04. 
  20. ^ "Welcome to Boston's 4th of July Celebration". Boston 4 Celebrations Foundation. 2009. http://www.july4th.org/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-04. 
  21. ^ "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular". CBS. 2007. http://www.cbs.com/specials/bostonfireworks/. Retrieved 2009-07-04. 

References

External links

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Answers Corporation Holidays. © 1999-2009 by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
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From Today's Highlights
July 4, 2006

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
- Declaration of Independence

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