A Quick History of The Fourth of July
Monday, July 12, 2010
Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the Fourth of July holiday has been accepted as the official anniversary of U.S. independence.
But, did you know the original resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7, 1776? Mr. Lee’s resolution led to a committee being formed during the Second Continental Congress meeting on June 11, 1776 with the express purpose of drafting a document that would formally sever our ties with Great Britain. The committee included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.
The document was crafted by Jefferson, who was considered the most eloquent writer (nevertheless, a total of 86 changes were made to his draft!) The final version of the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4th.
The following day, copies of the Declaration of Independence were distributed and, on July 6, The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to print this extraordinary document.
On July 8, 1776, the first public readings of the Declaration were held in Philadelphia’s Independence Square to the ringing of bells and band music. All of this occurred even though some of the Congressional delegates were not even present; New York, for example, did not even vote on the resolution until July 9th. (Did you know that that not a single signature was placed onto the Declaration on July 4th? While most of the fifty-six names were in place by early August, one signer, Thomas McKean, did not actually sign the Declaration until 1781!)
Eventually, the ‘tradition’ of celebrating Independence Day spread to other towns both large and small, and was marked with processions, oratory, picnics, contests, games, military displays and fireworks. And in 1941, Congress declared the July 4th a legal Federal holiday.
Now that you know the actual history of the 4th of July Holiday, let me suggest you try your best to make it to Moscow, Vermont for their 4th of July celebration one year. It is the neatest celebration of our Independence I have ever witnessed. Small town Americana. For more info, give me a call!
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