A Brief History Of The 4th Of July

In the summer of 1776, thirteen colonies sought freedom from the rulership of Great Britain; one month later in July of 1776, the Continental Congress placed a vote and agreed to seek independence.  Two days following that vote, the Declaration of Independence, written by none other than Thomas Jefferson, was adopted by delegates.  Thus, 4th of July history reveals why the fourth has come to be known as Independence Day.

History Of 4th Of July: Early Beginnings

The Revolutionary War really began a year earlier in the Spring of 1775.  At the time, the notion of demanding independence from Britain did not appeal to many of the colonists; those that believed independence was called for were viewed as radical or as extremists.  It would not be until the middle of 1776 when colonists would begin to agree that declaring independence from Britain was a good idea.  The increased advocacy for independence is believed to be caused by the creation of pamphlets like “Common Sense” authored by Thomas Paine and the continued growth in hostility against the British. 

In June of 1766, a meeting was held in the Pennsylvania State House by the Continental Congress; there, Richard Henry, a Virginia-based delegate, called for independence from the British.  Votes were not placed immediately, but a special committee was created consisting of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson.  This committee was responsible for drafting a formalized statement explaining the justification for breaking off connections with Britain.  When July 2nd arrived, the Continental Congress chose to vote in favor of independence; the vote was almost unanimous with the exception of the New York delegate’s vote.  When the vote concluded, John Adams addressed a letter to his wife suggesting that the day would be celebrated for years to come; a day that should include “Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other,” bonfires, bells, guns, sports, gaming, parade and pomp.  Since the Declaration of Independence had been adopted on the fourth, this became the official day that was to later be recognized as the day that America became independent from Britain.  For more details visit http://www.history.com/topics/july-4th.

History Of 4th Of July: More On Early Traditions

Before the American Revolution, the King of Britain’s birthday was celebrated on a yearly basis.  The festivities would include things like parades, speeches, fires, and bell ringing.  In 1776 however, long after the start of the American Revolutionary War, colonists would commonly hold funerals mimicking the death of the then king of Britain: King George III.  These mock funerals were performed as a way of representing the end of the King’s reign over the colonist.  The celebrations include parades, cannon firing, the shooting of muskets, fires, and readings in public of the drafted Declaration of Independence.  Once independence was achieved, celebrations were held yearly thereafter.

In the late 1770s, whenever the 4th of July occurred in Philadelphia, guns were fired, people lighted candles, fireworks were set off, and bells were rung in honor of the holiday.   It is believed that the first July 4th celebration was held in the city of Philadelphia in 1778.   This was also the city where the very first public reading of the Declaration of Independence occurred in the Independence Hall in July of 1776; the Liberty Bell was sounded just prior to its reading.

At this time, the celebrations still remained somewhat modest.  Following the conclusion of the war in the early 1780s, the 4th of July was a regular holiday celebrated in different regions like Boston for example.  The White House hosted its very first public celebration for the holiday in the year 1804.  Lewis and Clark held a celebration for the holiday at Independence Creek, just west of the Mississippi River in 1805.  Following the War of 1812, yearly celebrations of our independence were popularized.    In 1826, Roger C. Weightman invited Thomas Jefferson to the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence; Jefferson, seriously ill, was unable to attend.  Both John Adams and Jefferson died on July 4th that same year.  For more information visit http://www.information-entertainment.com/Holidays/july4.html.

History Of 4th Of July: Interesting Facts

In the early 1870s, the Congress of the United States made the 4th of July a holiday that was federally recognized; later, in the early 1940s, this became a day that was a federal holiday for government employees, and the employees were provided full pay for the day.  Since the late nineteenth century, the 4th of July has become a holiday that is more family oriented than politically oriented; it is a time of barbecues, picnics, outdoor gaming, camping, vacationing, and fireworks. 

The adoption of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July made the notion of freedom and liberty important to the colonists as well as all Americans.  Right now, there are thirty places with the word “liberty” as part of their name in the United States.  For instance there is West Liberty, North Liberty, New Liberty, and Libertyville, Iowa, as well as Liberty Missouri, just to name a few.

Statistically speaking, over 66 million people participate in 4th of July celebrations every year, including barbecues and picnicking.  Of the latter 66 million, many people celebrate in national parks around the nation.  Today, the country imports over $128 million in fireworks every year for 4th of July celebrations too.  Today the holiday is associated with clambakes, and the consumption of popular foods like apple pie, hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, fresh corn, and pasta salads.  While the reasons for enjoy the holiday have certainly changed, the important symbolism of the holiday has never faded; the 4th of July is an All American holiday celebrated every year.