Isabella Carter
The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, declaring the Thirteen Colonies free and independent from the British monarchy. The holiday is celebrated annually with parades, fireworks, concerts, and other festivities, and is often a time for families and friends to gather and celebrate. While the vote for independence took place on July 2, 1776, the final Declaration of Independence document was approved and signed on July 4, leading to the establishment of the United States of America as a free and independent nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | July 4 |
| What is celebrated | The anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress |
| Year of the Declaration of Independence | 1776 |
| Number of colonies at the time | 13 |
| Founding Father who refused to recognize July 4 celebrations | John Adams |
| Founding Father who signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4 | John Hancock |
| Number of signers of the Declaration of Independence | 56 |
| Date when the rest of the signers signed the Declaration of Independence | August 2, 1776 |
| Number of edits made to the original draft | 86 |
| Writer of the original draft | Thomas Jefferson |
| Holiday signed into law | June 28, 1870 |
| Country where the largest July 4 celebrations outside of the US take place | Denmark |
| US state with the oldest Independence Day celebration | Rhode Island |
| City with the oldest Independence Day celebration | Bristol |
| City with the distinction of "America's Official Fourth of July City-Small Town USA" | Seward, Nebraska |
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What You'll Learn
The Declaration of Independence
The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states.
The Continental Congress voted to approve independence on July 2, 1776, by passing the Lee Resolution, and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by the Committee of Five: John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. It took two days for Congress to agree on the edits to the draft, and on July 4, Congress approved the final document. The Declaration of Independence was then sent to a printer named John Dunlap, who printed about 200 copies of the "Dunlap Broadside" version, with John Hancock's name printed at the bottom.
While July 4 is the date commonly associated with Independence Day, there is some debate about whether July 2 should be considered the true Independence Day, as this was the date when the Continental Congress voted to approve independence. John Adams, for instance, refused to recognize July 4 as Independence Day, and instead considered July 2 as the true date. However, July 4 has been recognized as a federal holiday by the US national government.
Independence Day is celebrated across the United States with various traditions and festivities. Parades, fireworks, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches are all common ways for Americans to celebrate the Fourth of July. The holiday is often marked by displays of patriotism, with red, white, and blue colours, representing the American flag, seen throughout the country.
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The nation's birthday
The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The holiday marks the nation's birthday and is celebrated with various traditions and festivities across the country.
The Declaration of Independence was a document ratified by the Second Continental Congress, declaring that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subordinate to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress had voted to approve independence on July 2, 1776, by passing the Lee Resolution, and two days later, on July 4, they adopted the Declaration of Independence.
While the Declaration of Independence was finalized and ordered to be printed on July 4, most of the delegates signed the document on August 2, 1776. John Hancock was the only delegate to sign the Declaration on July 4, and the exact date when the other 56 delegates signed is unclear. Despite this, July 4 has become the date recognized and celebrated as Independence Day in the United States.
Americans celebrate Independence Day with a variety of traditions and festivities. Fireworks displays are a common feature of the celebrations, with towns and cities across the country putting on elaborate shows. Parades, often with floats and participants, are also a popular tradition, with some lasting for hours. Families often host or attend picnics or barbecues, and many take advantage of the day off to gather with loved ones. The colours red, white, and blue, representing the American flag, are prominently displayed in decorations and clothing.
In addition to these traditions, Independence Day is also marked by concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. The first week of July is often a busy travel period, as many Americans take advantage of the long holiday weekend for extended vacation trips.
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Fireworks
The use of fireworks to celebrate this occasion dates back to John Adams's letter to his wife, Abigail, in which he wrote: " [This day] ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
Adams's reference to "illuminations" was a common term for fireworks displays at the time. Fireworks had long been used as a way to celebrate national prosperity and patriotism, with extravagant displays put on in Europe to mark the opulence of rulers such as King Louis XIV and Peter the Great.
Today, fireworks are still a central part of Fourth of July celebrations across the United States. Displays are put on in parks, harbors, off boats, sporting venues, fairgrounds, public shorelines, and town squares. One of the largest fireworks displays in the country is sponsored by Macy's in New York City. The National Mall in Washington, D.C., also hosts a large fireworks display, preceded by a concert known as "A Capitol Fourth," which is broadcast live by PBS and NPR and the American Forces Network.
The Fourth of July is a federal holiday in the United States, and the day is often marked by parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches.
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Parades
The National Independence Day Parade, for example, takes place on Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C. and is also available to watch on YouTube. In Annapolis, Maryland, the Fourth of July Parade begins on Amos Garrett Boulevard and West Street and ends at Susan Campbell Park. In 2024, the parade took place from 6:30 pm to 9:15 pm. In Rock Hall, Maryland, the Independence Day celebrations include a parade, fireworks, midway games, and a talent show.
Seward, Nebraska, has held a Fourth of July celebration since 1868, and in 1979 it was designated "America's Official Fourth of July City-Small Town USA" by resolution of Congress. The town's population of 6,000 swells to over 40,000 during the July 4 celebrations.
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The founding fathers
The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America as an independent nation, free from British rule.
The Committee of Five, comprising John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, drafted the Declaration of Independence. The Continental Congress debated and made edits to the document, and on July 4, 1776, they approved the final version. While John Hancock is known to have signed the Declaration on July 4, the exact date when the other 56 delegates signed it is unclear. Most of the signers are believed to have signed it on August 2, 1776.
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Frequently asked questions
The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It declares the nation's independence from Great Britain.
Fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches are all part of the Fourth of July celebrations. The colours red, white, and blue, which represent the American flag, are frequently used in decorations and clothing.
The Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, by 56 delegates of the Continental Congress, the governing body of the original 13 US colonies. John Hancock was the only person to sign the document on July 4th.
The Continental Congress voted to approve independence on July 2, 1776, and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4. However, there is some debate over which date should be considered Independence Day, as John Adams and some other Founding Fathers refused to recognise July 4 as the date of independence.
The Fourth of July is celebrated in various countries outside the United States, such as Canada, Denmark, and the Philippines. In Canada, the city of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, celebrates its founding every July 4 since it was established on that day in 1634. Rebild National Park in Denmark holds the largest July 4 celebrations outside the US. The Philippines celebrates July 4 as Republic Day to commemorate its independence from the US in 1946.
