My nephew
History of Independence Day
Schoolchildren in America learn the basic history of the events surrounding the Fourth of July, but the details of this monumental occasion in American history somehow fall through the cracks. Although July 4th is celebrated as America's official split from Britain's rule and the beginning of the American Revolution, the actual series of events show that the process took far longer than a single day.The original resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7, 1776, and called for the Continental Congress to declare the United States free from British rule. Three days later a committee headed by Thomas Jefferson was appointed to prepare an appropriate writing for the occasion.The document that we know as the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress on July 4th, although the resolution that led to the writing of the Declaration was actually approved two days earlier.All of this had occurred with some of the delegates to the Congress not even present. New York, for example, didn't vote on the resolution until July 9th. Even more interesting is the fact that not a single signature was appended to the Declaration on July 4th. While most of the fifty-six names were in place by early August, one signer, Thomas McKean, didn't actually sign the Declaration until 1781.Nevertheless, July 4th was the day singled out to mark the event of the United States establishing itself as a nation.
"Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness), it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.”Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), from the Declaration of Independence
Only four American holidays are still celebrated on their proper calendar days: Halloween, Christmas, New Year's and Independence Day. Of all the secular holidays, the Fourth of July is the only one whose celebration date resists change. Even in more provincial times, suggestions to alter the day of the festival to the preceding Saturday or the following Monday when July 4th fell on Sunday were protested. The feeling about the sanctity of America's Independence day was best expressed in a quotation from the Virginia Gazette on July 18th, 1777: "Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious and ever memorable day, be celebrated through America, by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more. Amen and Amen."
The Liberty BellThe Liberty Bell is one of the central symbols of American independence from British rule. This historical icon has a rich history that began when the Pennsylvanian Assembly ordered the casting of the bell back in 1751. Learn more about how the bell cracked, where it currently resides and what the inscription on it reads.
The National AnthemThe American National Anthem, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, was written by Francis Scott-Key in 1814. The song was an immediate hit with American revolutionaries due to its ability to inspire patriotism. However, it wasn’t until 1931 that the Star-Spangled Banner officially became the American National Anthem.
Uncle SamAlthough the name Uncle Sam has been a key aspect of American culture, no one is sure to whom the title originally refers. The modern-day image of Uncle Sam, the white-bearded man sporting a top hat and pin-striped pants, was made popular by the cartoonist Thomas Nast. His depiction has come to encapsulate the image of patriotism and American pride.
No comments:
Post a Comment