Independence Day (United States)

Fourth of July re-directs here. For alternate uses, see 4th of July (disambiguation).

For the movie, see Independence Day (film).

In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as "the Fourth of July" or simply "the Fourth") is a federal holiday celebrating 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 parades, barbecues, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Fireworks have been associated with the Fourth of July since 1777.

History

Why the 4th?

Though the Fourth of July is iconic to Americans, some claim the date itself is somewhat arbitrary. New Englanders had been fighting Britain since April 1775. The first motion in the Continental Congress for independence was made on June 8, 1776. After hard debate, the Congress voted unanimously (12-0), but secretly, for independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain on July 2 (see Lee Resolution). The Congress reworked the text of the Declaration until a little after eleven o'clock, 4th of July, when thirteen colonies voted for adoption and released a copy signed by John Hancock, President of the Congress, to the printers. (New York abstained from both votes.) Philadelphia celebrated the Declaration with public readings and bonfires on July 8. Not until August 2 would a fair printing be signed by the members of the Congress, but even that was kept secret to protect the members from British reprisal.

John Adams, credited by Thomas Jefferson as the unofficial, tireless whip of the independence-minded, wrote to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776:

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 was off by two days, however. Certainly, the vote on July 2 was the decisive act. But July 4, 1776 is the date on the Declaration itself. Jefferson's stirring prose, as edited by the Congress, was first adopted by the vote of the 4th. It was also the first day Philadelphians heard the official news of independence from the Continental Congress, as opposed to rumors in the street about secret votes.

Observance

In 1777, British officers noted the firing of 13 guns, 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.
In 1778, General George Washington marked the Fourth with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the sea, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.
In 1779, the Fourth fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.
In 1781, Massachusetts was the first legislature to recognize Independence Day.
In 1791, First recorded under "Independence Day" name.^*
In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4 an unpaid holiday for federal employees.

What is celebrated

Despite the genesis of Independence Day, it is largely uncommon for Americans to express anti-British sentiment on the day or to view it as a celebration of anti-colonialism (it is also unusual to remember the aid given to the Americans by European powers such as France and the Dutch Republic). Indeed, most Americans today consider the United Kingdom a close ally. Rather than specifically as an opportunity to commemorate the end of British rule in the 18th century, contemporary Americans generally perceive the holiday as a celebration of the U.S.A. itself and the political values that motivated the United States Declaration of Independence, including the explicit principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Customs

Independence Day, as the only holiday celebrating the United States as a whole, is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, July 4 celebrations often occur in the outdoors. Independence Day is considered a federal holiday, which usually means that all non-essential federal institutions (like the U.S. Postal Service, court systems, etc) are closed on the 4th. Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, society and people. Speeches and editorials may invoke Revolutionary War themes such as United States founding fathers (e.g. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Washington et al ), the Constitution, the Liberty Bell, and democratic principles such as liberty, freedom, equality under the law, inalienable rights, and representative government.

Families often mark the Fourth with a picnic or barbecue, and often gather with family relatives, taking advantage of the three day weekend or day off from work. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) generally are colored red, white, and blue due to the colors of the American Flag. Parades are often held the morning of the Fourth, baseball games are usually held (July 4th being nearly halfway into the baseball season), and the evening is usually marked by free displays of fireworks at public parks . Some other July 4 traditions concurrent with these events include face painting for the children and tossing of a football or frisbee.

Fireworks

July 4 fireworks are often accompanied by a pops orchestra playing patriotic songs such as "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 the "1812 Overture". Some of these songs include lyrics that recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.

"The Star-Spangled Banner", also the USA's national anthem, commemorates the United States flag that was visible by the light of the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air. This view of the flag throughout the night of bomb bursts was inspiring to the captive Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 and it provided hope concerning the ability of the United States to competently defend Fort McHenry.

Firework shows are often held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Concerns about safety have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed, but illicit traffic brings plenty of firecrackers in from less restrictive states, showing that the American people have nevertheless found a way to celebrate "with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations."

Most fireworks shows in the United States end in a grand finale, where an intense volley of fireworks is rapidly launched almost simultaneously.

Parades

Many U.S. parades for the Fourth of July involve gun salutes honoring veterans who have died for the country. Other features of Fourth of July parades involve Shriner mini-cars, high school marching bands, floats promoting civic organizations and politicians, and children riding decorated bicycles. Some parades in recent years have included absurd entries such as lawn chair brigade drill teams. A person dressed as Uncle Sam, the personification of the United States, sometimes marches in parades. Most U.S. parades are led and followed by police cars and fire engines. Parades often have a grand marshall, some celebrity or local celebrity who rides in a convertible car.

Frequently, parade-goers line the streets with lawn chairs and blankets. They may wave American flags and take off their hats as a sign of respect when the flag or veterans pass by in the parade.

Picnics and barbecues

Fourth of July barbecues and picnics are outdoor meals that are easy to prepare for the large quantities of people that often gather on July 4.

Barbecues generally involve hamburgers and hot dogs which may be garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions. Hamburgers may be topped with lettuce and/or tomatoes, and hot dogs may be topped with relish. For buns, the meat may be served on a hamburger bun or hot dog bun respectively, or sliced bread may be used as a bun substitute.

July 4 picnics are generally held in parks while waiting for fireworks or are held at the beach. They do not involve heated meats and instead include sandwiches such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and tuna salad sandwiches. Picnics were traditionally transported in a picnic basket although they are more commonly carried in coolers.

Beverages for a picnic or barbecue generally include 2-liters of soda. Soda is chilled with ice and served in party cups. If alcoholic beverages are present, the host may provide canned beer or a keg or may ask participants to bring their own beer (referred to as "BYOB"). If beverages are drunk directly from the can, a coozie may be used. Traditional sides for a picnic or barbecue include potato salad, potato chips, vegetable tray, jello salad, and perhaps baked beans or corn on the cob.

Guests at barbecues and picnics may sit at a picnic table or some other form of outdoor furniture. If the picnic is in a park (especially where fireworks are held), a picnic blanket may be set on the ground and participants eat the food sitting down on the blanket.

Other notable July 4 events

One colorful annual Independence Day event is the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, which supposedly started on July 4, 1916 as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic. On July 4, 2006 alone, it was estimated that Americans would consume about 150 million hot dogs, an amount totaling about half the United States population.
The town of Bristol, Rhode Island is noted for having the oldest, continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.
Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball games are also played on Independence Day. Since 1959, NASCAR has held the Pepsi 400 on July 4th, or the Saturday of July 4th weekend.
Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the US, and the only two men to sign the Declaration of Independence to become President passed away on the same day: July 4, 1826; which was the United States' 50th anniversary.
In 2006, the first Space Shuttle launch on Independence Day occurred at 2:37:55 EDT for mission STS-121 using the Space Shuttle Discovery.

References

External links

US State Department on Independence Day
An extensive history of Independence Day by James R. Heintze, American University, Washington, D.C.
Independence Day - 4th of July - A Patriotic Holiday Page
The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro by Frederick Douglass
Independence Day Manifesto by Allen Ginsberg
History of 4th of July
Independence Day Checklist
Photos of fireworks taken during the 4th of July in Washington, DC

Holidays in the United States | Secular holidays | American Revolution | Fireworks

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