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"Fourth of July" redirects here. For the date, see July 4. For other uses, see 4th of July.

This article is semi-protected indefinitely in response to an ongoing high risk of vandalism.

Independence Day

Independence Day

Displays of fireworks, such as these over the Washington Monument, take place nationwide.

Also called The Fourth of July

The Glorious Fourth

The Fourth

Observed by United States

Type National

Significance The day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress

Date July 4

Celebrations Fireworks, Family reunions, Concerts, Barbecues, Picnics, Parades, Baseball games


In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States




Background:


During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:


The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.


Adams' prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.


One of the most enduring myths about Independence Day is that Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The myth had become so firmly established that, decades after the event and nearing the end of their lives, even the elderly Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had come to believe that they and the other delegates had signed the Declaration on the fourth. Most delegates actually signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776. In a remarkable series of coincidences, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the United States and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to become president, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary.




Observance:



  1. *In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.


  3. *In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.


  5. *In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.


  7. *In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.


  9. *In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled "The Psalm of Joy".


  11. *In 1791 the first recorded use of the name "Independence Day" occurred.


  13. *In 1820 the first Fourth of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine which remains the largest in the state.


  15. *In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.


* In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.




Customs:



Independence Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people.


Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades often are in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.


Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever", and, regionally, "Yankee Doodle" in northeastern states and "Dixie" in southern states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.


Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit traffic transfers many fireworks from less restrictive states.


A salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a “salute to the union,” is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable military base.


In 2009, New York City had the largest fireworks display in the country, with over 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploded. Other major displays are in Chicago on Lake Michigan; in San Diego over Mission Bay; in Boston on the Charles River; in St. Louis on the Mississippi River; and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. During the annual Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, Detroit, Michigan hosts one of the world's largest fireworks displays, over the Detroit River, to celebrate Independence Day in conjunction with Windsor, Ontario's celebration of Canada Day.


While the official observance always falls on July 4th, participation levels may vary according to which day of the week the 4th falls on. If the holiday falls in the middle of the week, some fireworks displays and celebrations may take place during the weekend for convenience, again, varying by region.




Unique or historical celebrations:



  1. *Held since 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.


  3. *Since 1912, the Rebild Society, a Danish-American friendship organization, has held a July 4th weekend festival that serves as a homecoming for Danish-Americans in the Rebild section of Denmark.


  5. *Since 1916, Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City supposedly started as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic.


  7. *Since 1959, the International Freedom Festival is jointly held in Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario during the last week of June each year as a mutual celebration of Independence Day and Canada Day (July 1). It culminates in a large fireworks display over the Detroit River.


  9. *Numerous major and minor league baseball games are played on Independence Day.


  11. *The famous Macy's fireworks display usually held over the East River in New York City has been televised nationwide on NBC since 1976. In 2009, the fireworks display was returned to the Hudson River for the first time since 2000 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration of that river.


  13. *Since 1970, the annual 10 kilometer Peachtree Road Race is held in Atlanta, Georgia.


  15. *The Boston Pops Orchestra has hosted a music and fireworks show over the Charles River Esplanade called the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular" annually since 1973. The event has been broadcast nationally since 2003 on CBS.


  17. *On the Capitol lawn in Washington, D.C., “A Capitol Fourth,” a free concert, precedes the  

  18. fireworks and attracts over half a million people annually.











Independence Day is the birthday of a nation, marking the anniversary of its freedom from the rule of another country.  Many countries large and small celebrate their Independence Day. 


The best-known Independence Day is that of the United States, celebrated every July 4.  It is the anniversary of the day on which the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.  The Congress declared the American Colonies free and independent states. 


In early days, American Independence Days were occasions for shows, games, military music, and fireworks.  Today, most cities and states forbid the sale of fireworks, though many have large public fireworks displays organized by professionals.  Celebrations today often include parades, games, concerts, speeches, and picnics. 


The Philippines achieved full independence from United States rule on July 4, 1946.  But the Philippines' Independence Day is on June 12, commemorating the declaration of independence from Spain made in 1898. 


The territory once ruled by the United Kingdom as India gave rise to five separate nations.  India became independent on Aug. 15, 1947, the day after Pakistan gained full self-government.  In 1948, Burma (now Myanmar) became fully independent on Jan. 4, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) won its independence on Feb. 4.  Bangladesh, previously the eastern part of Pakistan, declared its independence on March 26, 1971. 


A notable year for first Independence Days was 1960, when 18 countries gained full self-government.  British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland became the nation of Somalia when the two territories gained independence from the United Kingdom and Italy.  Cyprus and Nigeria also became independent of the United Kingdom that year.  Fifteen African countries also gained independence from French or Belgian rule in 1960.  These nations were Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo, and Zaire (now Congo [Kinshasa]). 


Contributor: Carole S. Angell, M.Ed., Teacher, Fairfax County Public Schools, Falls Church, VA.

Independence Day