July 01, 2009 Adam Sherwood

    The 4th of July is right around the corner!
    It’s time to fire up the grills, set out the American flag, and prime the fireworks displays. America has been celebrating the 4th of July, (aka Independence Day) for more than two hundred years. Why do people make such a big deal about this random day in July anyway? Why do Americans automatically think of fireworks and hot dogs in association with the 4th?
    It all began in 1776. The original thirteen American colonies were fighting their British overlords over taxes. British Parliament and King George III were levying taxes against the colonies, and the colonies were upset that they had no representation in Parliament to approve of or argue against these motions. This is why the phrase “no taxation without representation” became a revolutionary slogan.
    Americans had been fighting the British for years and had tried to find a diplomatic solution to their differences, not wanting to take the drastic step of secession. However, when it was obvious that no practical solution could be reached, the Continental Congress gathered to vote on whether or not to declare independence from Great Britain. The vote, which took place on July 2 was, surprisingly, not unanimous. Nine states voted to secede, two declined, and one abstained.
    Once the vote was taken, the Continental Congress drew up the document we know as the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote it for the express purpose of informing both the American people and the British of the colonies’ intent to become a sovereign power. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams all signed the document among other representatives from each of the thirteen colonies.
    The document was finally finished on the fourth of July, which is also the time that the general public had heard more than rumor and speculation regarding independence. This is why you see fireworks on the forth and not the second!
    The first independence celebration was actually the very next year. It was celebrated with an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, salutes, speeches, music, parades, and fireworks. The first celebration included most of the same things Americans see today, though the Congressional dinner probably did not include burgers and hot dogs.
    John Adams was the first to celebrate with fireworks believing that the holiday was a momentous occasion, not just for the colonies, but for the world. As such it should be celebrated with “pomp and parade.” Fireworks displays today range from the stray bottle rocket in someone’s back yard to the expertly choreographed shows in New York City. By the 1800’s, picnics, parades and fireworks were all an integral part of the holiday celebration.
    Oddly enough, it wasn’t until 1870 that Independence Day was made an unpaid holiday for government employees, and it wasn’t until 1941 that the day was set aside as an official national holiday.
    While Americans take great pride in their country’s flag, Independence Day usually sees an upsurge in the number displayed. The American flag was originally commissioned by the Continental Congress, whose members walked into Betsy Ross’ sewing shop and asked if she would sew the first flag.
    The original flag had thirteen stars in a circle representing the thirteen colonies and thirteen red and white stripes. Over time, the flag’s design has changed as the stars now represent the states in the Union. The last revision of the flag was in 1959 and included the addition of two stars to represent Alaska and Hawaii’s statehood.
    While the flag’s design may have been different, as well as the food, Independence Day celebrations haven’t really changed that much since 1777. So as you acknowledge America’s 233rd birthday take comfort in knowing that as you light off that stray bottle rocket, two hundred years ago there was probably a grizzled colonist somewhere in his backyard doing the exact same thing.

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