What’s the best way to celebrate the Fourth of July? Refresh your memory about this all-important American holiday. What actually happened on July 4, 1776? How did the founders envision our country’s Independence Day celebration? What are ways to prep for YOUR Fourth of July? Show
When Is Independence Day This Year?On the 4th of July, the United States observes a federal holiday in honor of the Declaration of Independence. Note: If the Fourth of July falls on a Sunday, the federal observed holiday is the following Monday, July 5. If the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday, the observed holiday for most (but not all) federal employees is Friday, July 3. What Day of the Week is July 4th?
A Brief History of Independence DayWe think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence, America’s revolutionary Charter of Freedom and the document upon which the nation’s founding principles were established. But July 4 wasn’t the day that independence was declared. Nor the day that the Declaration was officially signed. So what did happen on July 4, 1776? Here are more dates to remember:
On August 4, 1776, after delegates of the Continental Congress had signed the document, the Declaration of Independence was made official. How Did Our Founders Envision Independence Day Celebrations?John Adams described the way Americans should celebrate their independence each year. He envisioned the celebration to be one filled with fun, games, and fireworks—not an occasion for displaying military strength (as one might expect). On July 3, 1776, he wrote these words to his wife Abigail, capturing the spirit of the times:
On July 18, 1777, an issue of the Virginia Gazette describes the July 4 celebration in Philadelphia:
A number of years would pass until celebrations of the Fourth of July became more common. Interestingly, it was the death of John Adams (and Thomas Jefferson) that seemed to promote the idea of July 4 as an important date to be celebrated. And it was almost a century later (in 1870) that Congress declared July 4 a national holiday. What’s really special about America’s celebration of freedom is it was quite different for its time, focusing on the joys of freedom. Many countries have emulated this spirit of celebration ever since. Refresh Your Memory: The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in the history of the United States. It was an official act taken by all 13 American colonies in declaring independence from British rule. The document was originally written by Thomas Jefferson, but Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, along with Jefferson then worked together to make changes. The final draft of the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, but the actual signing of the final document took place on August 2, 1776. Here is an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence (U.S. 1776):
We invite you to refresh your memory as an annual tradition. Read a transcription of the complete text of the Declaration at www.archives.gov. More Fourth of July History
4th of July TriviaWhile we celebrate with fireworks, let’s not forget the freedom that our founding fathers declared to the world over two centuries ago. Here are some fun facts you may not know about the holiday: Q. Why is the name “John Hancock” synonymous with “your
signature”? Q. When did America declare independence? Q. How many people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4? Q. On what day did most people sign the Declaration of Independence? Q. When did Independence
Day become a national holiday? Q. Is anything written on the back of the Declaration of Independence? Q. Where is the Declaration of
Independence document today? Q. Where was George Washington when the Declaration of Independence was written? After the war, George Washington hoped to retire and return to Mount Vernon, Virginia. Instead, in 1789, the electors unanimously voted him in as the first president of the United States. Because it was such an honor, and he felt a great duty to his country, he accepted. He departed Mount Vernon on April 16 and arrived in New York City on April 30 for his inauguration. As he took his oath standing on the balcony of Federal Hall, the crowd broke into cheers. The members of his first Cabinet included Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state and Alexander Hamilton as secretary of the treasury. Celebrating the Fourth of JulyIn the United States, Independence Day is a federal holiday traditionally observed with parades, concerts, outdoor food, and fireworks. Here are five ways to prep for the Fourth of July!
How do YOU celebrate the 4th of July? Fireworks? Barbecue? Both? Let us know in the comments—and have a Happy Independence Day, America! What is the holiday on the 4th of July in America known as?Independence Day, also called Fourth of July or July 4th, in the United States, the annual celebration of nationhood. It commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
What is the 4th of July and why is it celebrated?Independence Day (colloquially the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.
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