Independence Day
The Fourth of July 1 The Day Before. , ca. 1906. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2004681979/.
By June of 1776, matters had deteriorated between England and her 13 American colonies. Colonist’s attempts to reconcile with England had failed. Protests over high taxes turned violent and the large numbers of British troops sent to keep the peace only escalated the situation into all-out war.
A proposal on independence drew mixed response from colonial representatives meeting in Philadelphia. However, a five member committee was appointed to draft a Declaration of Independence. With Thomas Jefferson doing most of the writing and John Adam doing much of the editing, more than 80 changes were made to the document.
Reconvening on July 2nd, 1776, representatives from 12 colonies voted for independence. New York abstained, but later changed their vote to “yes”. On the 4th of July, after a few more changes, the representatives unanimously approved the Declaration of Independence. Printer John Dunlap sat up all that night making copies which were distributed throughout the country. Across the top he printed “In Congress July 4th, 1776, a Declaration by the representatives of the United States of America”.
A year later citizens of Philadelphia celebrated by placing candles in their windows and shooting off fireworks. A Hessian band, prisoners from Trenton, provided music. One Declaration Signer complained about “great expenditure of liquor”. In 1778, General Washington provided his troops with rum in celebration of July 4th. In 1781, three months before the American victory at Yorktown, Massachusetts made Independence Day an official state holiday.
Celebrating Independence Day became popular during the War of 1812 as a wave of patriotism swept the country. Being too frail, Adams and Jefferson were unable to attend any of the celebrations in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Both men died of July 4th, 1826.
During the mid-1800’s, abolitionists used the holiday to draw attention to the disconnect between the the evils of slavery and the Declaration's claim that all are created equal with God given rights.
In the late 1800's, celebrating Independence Day became an important small town tradition across the west, giving westerners a chance to clearly identify themselves as Americans. Independence Day became one of the first four federal holidays in 1870.
It is extremely important to display the American Flag every year on the 4th of July.