I love posting the history and each holiday came about..I found some of this on different sites and thought I should share it with you guys!
History of July 4th
On July 4th, 1776, America started an insurrection against the king. Thirteen years before, back in 1763, England instituted a series of taxes and policies that not only hindered trade and economic growth in the colonies, but without representation in Parliament, also violated their rights as English subjects.
It took the early Americans 9 years to understand the futility of appealing to England, all the while enduring the heavy hand of the king. Committees were formed in 1772, exploring options for a Congress of our own. Our first Continental Congress convened in 1774. The following year, 1775, our Congress was declared traitorous and British troops, sent to quell the uprising met resistance from the colonial militia and the Revolutionary War began.
July 4th
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence
One year later, representatives from all 13 colonies voted unanimously to adopt a Declaration of Independence and break free from the yoke of England.
It took another 7 years of fighting until in 1781, when America claimed victory and in 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed acknowledging America as an independent nation.
Although the Congress voted on the 2nd, it was two days later, on July 4th, 1776, that America formally and boldly proclaimed to the entire world that we would no longer consider ourselves subjects of the British Empire.
The text of our Declaration of Independence was finalized and approved that very day.
So each year, what we celebrate for one day, on July 4th, was in truth, a 20 year struggle for independence.Our Declaration of Independence stands today as one of the most profound declarations ever written.
This is a great history lesson for any little ones you have in your home. Its not easy trying to teach history but I really think they should know that we are lightening fireworks off for a reason tonight.. not just because its something cool to do in the summer!
4th of July History & Trivia -Did You Know…
- The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation. The colonists had no say in the decisions of English Parliament.
- In May, 1776, after nearly a year of trying to resolve their differences with England, the colonies sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Finally, in June, admitting that their efforts were hopeless; a committee was formed to compose the formal Declaration of Independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. On June 28, 1776, Thomas Jefferson presented the first draft of the declaration to Congress.
- Betsy Ross, according to legend, sewed the first American flag in May or June 1776, as commissioned by the Congressional Committee.
- Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.
- The Liberty Bell sounded from the tower of Independence Hall on July 8, 1776, summoning citizens to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.
- June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, looking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag. “Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
- The word ‘patriotism’ comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or ‘fatherland.’
- The first public Fourth of July event at the White House occurred in 1804.
- Before cars ruled the roadway, the Fourth of July was traditionally the most miserable day of the year for horses, tormented by all the noise and by the boys and girls who threw firecrackers at them.
- The first Independence Day celebration west of the Mississippi occurred at Independence Creek and was celebrated by Lewis and Clark in 1805.
- On June 24, 1826, Thomas Jefferson sent a letter to Roger C. Weightman, declining an invitation to come to Washington, D.C., to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was the last letter that Jefferson, who was gravely ill, ever wrote.
- Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.
- The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it.
- The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
- Thomas McKean was the last to sign in January, 1777.
- The origin of Uncle Sam probably began in 1812, when Samuel Wilson was a meat packer who provided meat to the US Army. The meat shipments were stamped with the initials, U.S. Someone joked that the initials stood for “Uncle Sam”. This joke eventually led to the idea of Uncle Sam symbolizing the United States government.
- In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.
Independence Day Trivia & Facts – An Inspired America:
- Thirty places nationwide with “liberty” in their name. Liberty, Missouri (26,232) boasts the highest population of the 30 at 26,232. Iowa has more of these places than any other state at four: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
- Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Missouri, with 113,288 residents.
- Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, California, with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.
- There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Indiana, with a population of 202.
- And what could be more fitting than spending the day in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, with 21,941 residents. Check out American Fact Finder.
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.
-The Declaration of Independence 4 of July, 1776.
You can find a cool app under - Declaration - that has tons of useful information for kids and adults of all ages!
K Jaggers
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