Fireworks & Freedom: Happy Independence Day!
Do you know the history behind the Fourth of July holiday?
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“I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory.” - John Adams in a letter to Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776
Happy Independence Day! 💥
Happy July everyone! Can you believe 2024 is halfway over and Independence Day is here?
Since this is one of my favorite holidays, I thought I’d refresh everyone’s memory about why we celebrate our country’s birthday on July 4, along with some common misconceptions about this celebratory day.
Quick Facts
The Fourth of July holiday in America marks the day in 1776 when the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence. This document proclaimed the official separation of the 13 original colonies from Great Britain.
Since that day, July 4, 1776 has been considered America’s “birthday,” making Independence Day 2024, America’s 248th birthday.
“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.”
What You Might Not Know
The Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed on July 4, 1776. In fact, independence was formally declared on July 2, 1776, a date that John Adams believed would be the most memorable day in the history of America.
Congress approved the final text of the Declaration on July 4, 1776, , but it wasn’t signed until August 2, 1776.
When Was The First Independence Day Celebration?
According to the Library of Congress, the residents of Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary of American independence (1777), and George Washington gave his soldiers double rations of rum on July 4, 1778 to celebrate.
But it wasn’t until after the War of 1812 that July 4th celebrations spread across the country.
Independence Day became a federal holiday on June 28, 1870, and the day continues to be celebrated with picnics, parades, and fireworks shows.
DID YOU KNOW? The United States declared independence in 1776, but the Revolutionary War wasn’t won until 1783!
Quick Facts: The Declaration Of Independence 🦅
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence.
Of those, Pennsylvania had the most with 9, followed by 7 from Virginia and 5 from both Massachusetts and New Jersey.
The youngest signer was Thomas Lynch Jr. of Hopsewee Plantation in South Carolina. Another signer was Arthur Middleton of the Middleton Place outside Charleston.
There were 2.5 million people living in America in July 1776. The current population is about 342 million.
Facts & Fiction About America’s Birthday
Thomas Jefferson is often called the “author” of the Declaration of Independence. Although he was indeed the principal contributor, he wasn’t the only person to work on the document.
Jefferson was a member of a five-person committee appointed by the Continental Congress to write the Declaration. The committee included Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman.
Related Story: Read about a house in Virginia that helped hide the country’s most important documents including the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
America’s Birthday: July 4 Celebration Facts
The first known instance of Fourth of July fireworks was in Philadelphia in 1777 and George Washington gave his soldiers double rations of rum on July 4, 1778 to celebrate.
Back in 1778, when the delegates in Philadelphia debated how Americans should observe their newly declared independence, William Henry Drayton of Drayton Hall argued for the day to be one of celebration with “certain grand fireworks,” rather than one of “fasting and mourning” as another South Carolinian proposed.
According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, Americans now spend more than $1 billion on fireworks each year.
And according to the National Sausage and Hot Dog Council, Americans eat 150 million hotdogs on July Fourth. (That’s enough hotdogs to stretch from Washington to Los Angeles).
Who Died On The Fourth Of July?
👉 Two of the most famous signers of the Declaration of Independence – John Adams and third President Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, on the nation’s 50th anniversary in an eerie coincidence.
The two men disliked each other immensely and Adams’ last words were “Thomas Jefferson still survives,” but he was mistaken. Jefferson had died five hours earlier.
👉 James Monroe, the fifth president, died on July 4, 1831.
👉 Zachary Taylor, the 12th president, died on July 9, 1850, but it’s generally accepted that he succumbed from complications from eating spoiled fruit and milk during the July Fourth celebration that year.
👉 A Birth On Independence Day: Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, was born on July 4, 1872.
Give Me Your ‘John Hancock’
Ever heard of the expression, ‘give me your John Hancock?’
That’s because founding father John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and his signature was the largest and most readable on the document.
He reportedly wanted to make sure that King George III could read his name “without his spectacles.”
‘Giving your John Hancock’ is an expression for putting your signature on something.
Wrap-Up Of America’s Birthday
Of course, for many Americans the Fourth of July today means a day off from work and getting together with family and friends. Keep in mind as you enjoy the holiday though that Independence Day is very significant, marking the birth of a nation that is founded on principles of freedom, democracy, and independence.
My family has an annual tradition of spending Independence Day at my brother’s house in Southern Maryland. It started with me and my three siblings getting together to go crabbing, and continued to become a favorite holiday as my nieces and nephews were born. Time has flown by because now they have children! It’s quite a big gathering these days.
Fun and freedom go hand in hand. I’d love to hear how you celebrate this special holiday!
Special Places To Visit
Want to explore America and need some ideas to learn more about our country’s founding? I recommend the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia where you can see George Washington’s actual Revolutionary War Tent.
Another important place to visit is George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Plan to spend the day! There is so much to see!
Valley Forge, where Washington’s troops spent the winter of 1776 is a beautiful park to drive through or explore on foot or a bike.
Much like the Gettysburg battlefield, the Valley Forge National Historic Park comprises 3,500 acres of picturesque, rolling hills.
There are lots of historical sites to see in Pennsylvania, including the town of Bethlehem, that has building that was used as a hospital during the Revolutionary War.
Washington DC is well known for its spectacular fireworks show. While you’re there, take a guided sightseeing tour of the city and see the very best of Washington DC in one day!
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