Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. At the time of the signing, the would-be United States
Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia.
At the time of the signing, the would-be United States consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England’s King George III. There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England, commonly referred to as “taxation without representation,” as the colonists were not represented in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on.
As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion. In 1774, the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.
In April 1775, as the King’s troops advanced on Concord, Mass., Paul Revere would sound the alarm “The British are coming, the British are coming” as he rode his horse through the late night streets. The battle of Concord and its “shot heard round the world” would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies’ war for Independence.
In May, the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year, the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war. By June 1776, their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence.
Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft, which was presented to the congress on June 28. After various changes, a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4.
Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, two — Pennsylvania and South Carolina — voted no, Delaware was undecided, and New York abstained.
To make it official, John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It is said that John Hancock signed his name “with a great flourish” so “King George can read that without spectacles!”
The following day, copies of the Declaration were distributed. The first newspaper to print the Declaration was the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 6. On July 8, the Declaration had its first public reading in Philadelphia’s Independence Square.
Twice that day the Declaration was read to cheering crowds and pealing church bells. Even the bell in Independence Hall was rung. The “Province Bell” would later be renamed “Liberty Bell” after its inscription — “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.”
Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the Fourth of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence. The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year, July 4, 1777.
By the early 1800s, the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America’s birthday. And although fireworks have been banned in most places because of their danger, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for all to see and enjoy.
