The 13 colonies formally declared their independence from England on July 4, 1776, which eventually resulted in the creation of the United States. The fourth of July, commonly known as Independence Day, is the day on which Americans commemorate this important occasion.
The American Constitution and History of the Fourth of July –
When the colonies held a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, the conflict between the colonies and England had already been going on for a year.
Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution on June 7 in the Pennsylvania State House (later known as Independence Hall), with the infamous words: “Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be totally dissolved.” Although the actual Declaration of Independence was not immediately adopted, Lee’s statements served as the catalyst for its creation.
Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was given the responsibility of leading the committee of five who were charged with writing the statement. Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence had various minor revisions as a result of discussions, but its core ideas remained the same.
The Continental Congress worked on the Declaration’s revisions from July 1 through July 3, and into the late afternoon of July 4 when it was formally accepted. Of the 13 colonies, nine supported the Declaration, two opposed it (South Carolina and Pennsylvania), Delaware was unsure, and New York abstained.
The Declaration of Independence was signed by John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress. John Hancock is reported to have “signed with a great flourish” so King George of England could read it without glasses.
The Fourth of July has been declared a national holiday to honor the day the United States formally declared itself to be a free and independent country. The original copy of the Declaration is currently kept in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Military families are the perfect example of a group that knows how to celebrate patriotic holidays in flair and elegance. These are not only public holidays; they are also OUR holidays. It is difficult to do the Fourth of July wrong because anyone may join the celebration and mark the birth of our country.
So here are some of our suggestions on how to celebrate the Fourth of July but don’t forget to do you!
1. Throw your own patriotic decoration bonanza. The way we drape banners, bunting, and flags over my house gives the impression that a flag has been flung up there. There is no denying our love for America because we enjoy decorating our home in patriotic hues.
2. Explosions are what we actually watched. We love fireworks to the point that “blowing stuff up” was all we did, despite the combatting of our military families in the wars. This was a glorious site.
3. Take in the National Mall fireworks display. The National Mall fireworks were a regular tradition for us on PBS, they are shown live, and it’s a lot of fun. You may learn more about that here. PBS is the ideal way to watch fireworks and stay in your pajamas at the same time if you’re a fuddy-duddy like me who doesn’t really want to leave her house after 8 o’clock in the evening.
4. Grill a dish. What would the Fourth of July be without a traditional American cookout? I know it sounds corny. Wow, just typing this makes me so hungry.
5. Establish an annual Independence Day movie custom. It only seems logical that you would celebrate everyone’s favorite summer vacation by viewing a movie featuring Will Smith as he is essentially the Dean of Summer Movies. Anyone up for “Independence Day”? Although this enjoyable Fourth of July custom does not originate from my family, it does appear to be a huge success with a close friend. Test it out!
6. Attend a parade. When I was a child, our small town conducted a tiny parade that, no matter the weather, was attended by everyone and their mother. We had front-row seats to what I considered to be the best parade ever because my mom’s store was right on the parade route, and I considered myself one lucky lady. Since then, I’ve discovered that parades aren’t actually all that entertaining for grownups since they get monotonous very quickly. However, for children, parades are the place to be. So take the kids outside and let them wave at the firefighters all they want.
7. Prepare for bad weather. There are areas of the country where rain is a very real possibility, despite the fact that most of it is hotter than blue blazes on July 4. You are not, however, required to remain inside. Why not stock up on red, white, and blue umbrellas just in case and hit the parade route in style rather than avoiding that rain or shine march? Or simply go to the base for drinks and perhaps some dancing. Every base worth its salt hosts a Fourth of July celebration. They may also be a lot of fun if you can put up with the crowds and the heat. You may expect to find everything from jump houses for children to free concerts for adults, however the majority of them often culminate with fireworks.