Independence Day on the Net - The Story of the 4th of July, July 4th, US Independence Day

The Story of Independence Day
and America's Birthday

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, Pennsylvania.

At the time of the signing the US 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. This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation 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 Pennsylvania 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 Massachusetts Paul Revere would sound the alarm that "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.

The following 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, Robert R. 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 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware 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, 1776. On July 8th 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

And although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th 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.

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Comments

Dulce

20:25 02/04/2010

I donÂ´t understand anything about it.

DimondDiva97

14:19 01/30/2010

I luv this story. I also luv tht dis iz a holiday in da U.S.A. I luv 4th of July! I hang out w| my Aunts,Uncles,Sisters,Brothers,Cousins, and most of all my parents.! :) I luv dis holiday.

Alvaro

11:22 01/25/2010

i LOVE U S A LOL

khaetidawne

17:41 01/20/2010

Paul Revere did not actually say, "The British are coming!". Paul Revere borrowed a horse from Doctor Joseph Warren, a brave patriot who did so much for the cause of Liberty he was known as Freedom's Spirit. Paul Revere did not ride alone, he rode with Mr. Dawes. What they told people along their route in warning was, "The Regulars are on the March!". Revere & Dawes were captured, Dawes Escaped almost immediately, resumed his ride of warning & went on to help the Minutemen & was able to join them at Lexington Green. Paul Revere was held for quite some time & his borrowed horse was confiscated so it took some time for him to get to lexington Greene and he arrived just at the end of the battle, where the British commander, Pitcairn, with his nose pointed so high up in the air that if he sneezed, he would blow his hat off), ordered the patriots to "Ahem!cough.. Sputter flutter... Disperse you rebels! Ahem! Disperse! Or...I'll order my er.. men to.. erm.. disperse you rebels! or They'll shoot!". ( If it were to day, he would say, "Disperse you Erm. Persons... Or I'll, um.... Say Disperse Again!) - But, I digress, In any case, the Rebels did NOT disperse - SO Pitcairn gave the order and 8 men - Good citizens of Massachusetts died that day.The

billur ugursal

08:23 01/18/2010

i have a question about the delegates who signed the Independence Day Declaration. i believe there were 42 delegates who signed. would you kindly let me know whether these men were all Christians or were there Muslims and Jews present? Thank you. Sincerely, Billur Ugursal

cecil evans

15:52 01/16/2010

Ihave a copy that seems like the wet ink transfer copy. I know its very old, not writen on regular paper.Its starting to crack from age. Probably 1820 copy.would like some information if you can. thank you

yasmine

00:18 01/16/2010

i di not understand the story

jannete

15:43 01/12/2010

I love U.S.A story

juanye edmun

09:40 12/14/2009

dont believe anything i said down below

juanye edmun

09:54 12/10/2009

independence day rocks

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The Story of Independence Day and America's Birthday

The Story of Independence Day
and America's Birthday