4th of July: What It Means to The American People

By Moon Harper

Jul 03, 2024 06:54 AM EDT

A photo depiting American patriotism — (Photo : Pexels/Photo by Brett Sayles)

The Fourth of July is a holiday, falling most often on a Tuesday or Thursday. Workers typically get a holiday on the Fourth and the preceding or following Monday or Friday.

Independence Day is one of the historic dates in America. It is celebrated on the day on which the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July in 1776, formally declaring the United States of America a free nation.

4th of July Traditions

Many of today's Independence Day traditions in America originated in early celebrations of Americans who would gather for bonfires, concerts, and parades to commemorate their new nation. Some activities that formed fun aspects of the celebrations included reading the Declaration of Independence aloud, followed by firing muskets and cannons to honor patriotism.

These activities have transformed through the years into the beloved traditions we enjoy today, such as:

Watching fireworks
Waving sparklers
Hosting barbecues
Playing backyard games
Attending parades
Wearing attires in color red, white, and blue
Engaging in patriotic crafts
Waving mini American flags
Traveling; and
Taking advantage of stellar sales

This year, the Independence Day holiday falls on a Thursday and will fall on the following days in the corresponding years:

2025: Friday
2026: Saturday
2027: Sunday
2028: Tuesday

America's Colonizing Country

Britain colonized America in 1607, with Jamestown, Virginia, the first colony established. As Britain continued to expand its colonies throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, over 2.5 million settlers were recorded among the 13 colonies by 1755.

Great Britain imposed the Stamp Act of 1765, Townshend Acts of 1767, and Tea Act of 1773 to raise funds after the French and Indian War. The taxation without representation grievance was triggered by forcing colonists into paying more without giving them a say in the policy, which later fueled the American Revolution.

The tensions between British authorities and American colonists escalated with events like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. They peaked in April 1775 during the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts after British forces tried confiscating colonists' weapons, triggering the first clashes between Colonial militias and British troops and marking the start of the American Revolutionary War.

July 4, 1776: The American Independence Day

During a Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia in June 1776, Virginia statesman Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the Colonies to dissolve their ties with Britain. The Declaration of Independence, written by a special committee in the historical society, came to be on July 4, 1776, when America was officially declared free from its colonization under British jurisdiction. The Revolutionary War continued, and America finally achieved victory over Great Britain in September 1783.

Americans salute the bravery of the Founding Fathers on Independence Day, who stood up for freedom, equal rights, and self-rule. The nation bursts into festive mode with patriotic shows, street marches, and dazzling sky displays, with people coming together in their towns and cities to pay tribute to the undying love of America for liberty.