Since the 4th of July is soon, I thought I would do a post about Independence Day!
🎆 What is the 4th of July?
The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, is a U.S. federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On this day, the 13 American colonies declared their independence from British rule.
📜 Historical Background
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1775-1783: The American Revolutionary War was fought between the colonies and Great Britain.
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July 2, 1776: The Continental Congress voted in favor of independence.
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July 4, 1776: The final wording of the Declaration of Independence, primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson, was approved and adopted.
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Since 1777: Americans have celebrated the date with various traditions, though it became an official federal holiday in 1870.
🎇 Modern Traditions
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Fireworks displays
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Parades
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Barbecues and picnics
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Patriotic concerts
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Wearing red, white, and blue
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Community events and fairs
Many people also display the American flag and reflect on the values of freedom and democracy.
🇺🇸 Fun Facts
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John Adams predicted July 2 would be celebrated as Independence Day, but July 4 became the date because that’s when the Declaration was officially adopted.
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Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration.
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Americans consume about 150 million hot dogs on the 4th of July each year!
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quick history timeline of the 4th of July / American Independence:
🌟 1765-1775: Tensions Grow
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British Parliament passes taxes (like the Stamp Act & Tea Act), angering colonists.
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"No taxation without representation!" becomes a rallying cry.
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1773: Boston Tea Party protests British taxation.
⚔️ 1775: Start of Revolutionary War
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April 19, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord — first shots of the American Revolution.
📜 1776: Declaration of Independence
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June 7, 1776: Richard Henry Lee proposes independence to Congress.
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June 11–28: Thomas Jefferson drafts the Declaration of Independence.
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July 2, 1776: Congress votes for independence.
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July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence formally adopted.
🎆 1777: First 4th of July Celebration
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Philadelphia celebrates with fireworks, parades, and public displays.
🎖️ 1781: British Surrender
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October 19, 1781: British General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown — war essentially ends.
📜 1783: Treaty of Paris
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September 3, 1783: Treaty officially ends the Revolutionary War.
🏛️ 1870: 4th of July Becomes a Federal Holiday
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U.S. Congress makes Independence Day an official unpaid holiday.
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1938: Becomes a paid federal holiday.
Here are some famous quotes from the Declaration of Independence (adopted July 4, 1776):
1️⃣
“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.”
This is one of the most well-known lines — it states the idea that all people have basic rights that cannot be taken away.
2️⃣
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
This means government gets its power from the people — not from kings or other rulers.
3️⃣
“... whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...”
If a government takes away people’s rights, the people can change it.
4️⃣
“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”
This is part of the list of complaints against King George II
