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[[File:Dcfireworks.jpg|right|200px| The Spirit of '76]]

[[File:Dcfireworks.jpg|right|200px| The Spirit of '76]]

'''Independence Day''' is the celebration of the birthday of the [[United States of America]], referred to in [[secularized language]] as July 4th or the Fourth of July.  On July 4th, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally adopted the [[Declaration of Independence]]; thus, breaking ties with the Kingdom of [[Great Britain]], and a new nation was born.<ref>The Congress had already voted for independence on July 2, 1776 and on July 4 it gave the reasons in the ''Declaration of Independence.''.</ref>  The document, primarily written by [[Thomas Jefferson]], served as a formal announcement that the 13 American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire and would henceforth be free and independent states.<ref>[http://www.history.com/videos/jefferson-writes-declaration-of-independence Jefferson Writes Declaration of Independence]. ''The History Channel website''. 2010. Accessed Jul 4, 2010.</ref>

'''Independence Day''' is the celebration of the birthday of the [[United States of America]], referred to in [[secularized language]] as July 4 or the Fourth of July.  On July 4, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally adopted the [[Declaration of Independence]]; thus, breaking ties with the Kingdom of [[Great Britain]], and a new nation was born.<ref>The Congress had already voted for independence on July 2, 1776 and on July 4 it gave the reasons in the ''Declaration of Independence.''.</ref>  The document, primarily written by [[Thomas Jefferson]], served as a formal announcement that the 13 American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire and would henceforth be free and independent states.<ref>[http://www.history.com/videos/jefferson-writes-declaration-of-independence Jefferson Writes Declaration of Independence]. ''The History Channel website''. 2010. Accessed Jul 4, 2010.</ref>

Independence Day has long been the most important of all American anniversaries, and its very first celebration was held in the nation's capital, then [[Philadelphia]]. Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870, <ref>[http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/history.html History of the Fourth] PBS.org</ref> and as a legal holiday in 1941. '''This is year number {{age|1776|7|4}} of our Independence.'''

Independence Day has long been the most important of all American anniversaries, and its very first celebration was held in the nation's capital, then [[Philadelphia]]. Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870,<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/history.html History of the Fourth] PBS.org</ref> and as a legal holiday in 1941. '''This is year number {{age|1776|7|4}} of our Independence.'''

Most American businesses are closed and the citizens enjoy the summer holiday with cookouts, get-togethers, concerts, baseball, picnics, barbecues, bon fires, parades, and at night time enjoy displays of [[fireworks]]. Some people hold re-enactments of [[Revolutionary War]] era and some people give political speeches at events across the nations cities and towns.  

Most American businesses are closed and the citizens enjoy the summer holiday with cookouts, get-togethers, concerts, baseball, picnics, barbecues, bon fires, parades, and at night time enjoy displays of [[fireworks]]. Some people hold re-enactments of [[Revolutionary War]] era and some people give political speeches at events across the nations cities and towns.  

The [[American flag|Flag]] and symbols of it are in evidence everywhere, in this annual outpouring of [[patriotism]]. An expression of pride and hope can be found in many patriotic songs such as the national anthem ''[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]'', America the Beautiful, God Bless America, ''[[My Country, 'Tis of Thee]]'' and The Stars and Stripes Forever. <ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/patriotic/patriotic-home.html Patriotic Melodies] The Library of Congress</ref>

The [[American flag|Flag]] and symbols of it are in evidence everywhere, in this annual outpouring of [[patriotism]]. An expression of pride and hope can be found in many patriotic songs such as the national anthem ''[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]'', America the Beautiful, God Bless America, ''[[My Country, 'Tis of Thee]]'' and The Stars and Stripes Forever.<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/patriotic/patriotic-home.html Patriotic Melodies] The Library of Congress</ref>

==Patriot Quotes==

==Patriot Quotes==

[[File:Spirit of 76.jpg|left|225px]]

[[File:Spirit of 76.jpg|left|225px]]

[[John Adams]] wrote to his wife Abigail on July 3rd, it reads: <ref>[http://www.101kidz.com/holidays/4thjuly/history.html July 4th History] Kidz101.com</ref>

[[John Adams]] wrote to his wife Abigail on July 3, it reads:<ref>[http://www.101kidz.com/holidays/4thjuly/history.html July 4th History] Kidz101.com</ref>

{{cquote| '''The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of [[America]]. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.'''}}

{{cquote| '''The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of [[America]]. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.'''}}

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

In 1776, ''in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain and its king.'' <ref> [http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=VideoArticle&id=6948 U.S. declares independence] </ref>

In 1776, ''in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain and its king.'' <ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=VideoArticle&id=6948 U.S. declares independence]</ref>

</blockquote>

</blockquote>

From 1778 to 1821 orations in the South reflected the nationalist feeling of the period, but in the next decade the threat to the expansion of slavery created an undertone of suspicion. In 1831 and 1832 nullification dominated the celebration, and the abolitionist threat and the horror of slave revolt appeared next. In the 1840s and 1850s the orators defended the institution of slavery. In the five years before the outbreak of the Civil War orators in Charleston and other deep South cities began to accept secession as inevitable. From 1847 to 1860 the orators spoke increasingly with one voice against the hostile action of the federal government. In the border states the emphasis was more on preserving the Union at all costs.

From 1778 to 1821 orations in the South reflected the nationalist feeling of the period, but in the next decade the threat to the expansion of slavery created an undertone of suspicion. In 1831 and 1832 nullification dominated the celebration, and the abolitionist threat and the horror of slave revolt appeared next. In the 1840s and 1850s the orators defended the institution of slavery. In the five years before the outbreak of the Civil War orators in Charleston and other deep South cities began to accept secession as inevitable. From 1847 to 1860 the orators spoke increasingly with one voice against the hostile action of the federal government. In the border states the emphasis was more on preserving the Union at all costs.

===Blacks===

===Blacks===

Before the Civil War free blacks found fault with the Declaration of Independence for inconsistency and the closely related grounds of hypocrisy and ineffectuality. They held negative attitudes toward Thomas Jefferson and dismissed the Fourth of July because it did not include freedom for blacks. Black leaders and white abolitionists fought to insure that the Declaration would remain an inescapable commitment.<ref> Benjamin Quarles, "Antebellum Free Blacks and the 'Spirit Of '76.'" ''Journal of Negro History'' 1976 61(3): 229-242. </ref>

Before the Civil War free blacks found fault with the Declaration of Independence for inconsistency and the closely related grounds of hypocrisy and ineffectuality. They held negative attitudes toward Thomas Jefferson and dismissed the Fourth of July because it did not include freedom for blacks. Black leaders and white abolitionists fought to insure that the Declaration would remain an inescapable commitment.<ref>Benjamin Quarles, "Antebellum Free Blacks and the 'Spirit Of '76.'" ''Journal of Negro History'' 1976 61(3): 229-242.</ref>

The Fourth is a celebration of freedom and no one had more cause to celebrate than the freed slaves. African American celebration of the Fourth of July in southern cities such as Memphis, Tennessee, in the years following the Civil War featured a major parade with all the local black organizations marching or making floats, followed by picnics and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. At the same time, Fourth of July celebrations by the white community tended to be much more subdued.

The Fourth is a celebration of freedom and no one had more cause to celebrate than the freed slaves. African American celebration of the Fourth of July in southern cities such as Memphis, Tennessee, in the years following the Civil War featured a major parade with all the local black organizations marching or making floats, followed by picnics and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. At the same time, Fourth of July celebrations by the white community tended to be much more subdued.

== Reagan: What July 4^th Means to Me ==

== Reagan: What July 4th Means to Me ==

Representative of the traditional meaning of the Fourth is this oration written and delivered by [[President Ronald Reagan]] in 1981. It captures the essence of what the holiday means to millions of Americans:

Representative of the traditional meaning of the Fourth is this oration written and delivered by [[President Ronald Reagan]] in 1981. It captures the essence of what the holiday means to millions of Americans:

[[File:Reagan large 4.jpg|left|250px]]

[[File:Reagan large 4.jpg|left|250px]]

''President of the United States''}}

''President of the United States''}}

==Symbols of Liberty in the United States:==

==Symbols of Liberty in the United States==

*[[Flag of the United States of America]] [[Image:USflag.jpg|right|200px|]]

*[[Flag of the United States of America]] [[Image:USflag.jpg|right|200px]]

*[[Liberty Bell]]  

*[[Liberty Bell]]  

*[[Statue of Liberty]] [[Image:Liberty2.jpg|right|200px|]]  

*[[Statue of Liberty]] [[Image:Liberty2.jpg|right|200px]]  

{{clear}}

{{clear}}

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Martin, Howard H. "The Fourth of July oration," ''Quarterly Journal of Speech,'' Volume 44, Issue 4, 1958, Pages 393–401

* Martin, Howard H. "The Fourth of July oration," ''Quarterly Journal of Speech,'' Volume 44, Issue 4, 1958, Pages 393–401

* Quarles, Benjamin. "Antebellum Free Blacks and the 'Spirit of '76'" ''Journal of Negro History'', Vol. 61, No. 3 (Jul., 1976), pp. 229-242 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2717251 in JSTOR]

* Quarles, Benjamin. "Antebellum Free Blacks and the 'Spirit of '76'" ''Journal of Negro History'', Vol. 61, No. 3 (Jul., 1976), pp.&nbsp;229–242 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2717251 in JSTOR]

* Sweet, Leonard I. "The Fourth of July and Black Americans in the Nineteenth Century: Northern Leadership Opinion Within the Context of the Black Experience," ''Journal of Negro History,'' Vol. 61, No. 3 (July 1976), pp. 256-275 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2717253 in JSTOR]

* Sweet, Leonard I. "The Fourth of July and Black Americans in the Nineteenth Century: Northern Leadership Opinion Within the Context of the Black Experience," ''Journal of Negro History,'' Vol. 61, No. 3 (July 1976), pp.&nbsp;256–275 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2717253 in JSTOR]

* Travers, Len. ''Celebrating the Fourth: Independence Day and the Rites of Nationalism in the Early Republic.'' (1997). 304 pp.  

* Travers, Len. ''Celebrating the Fourth: Independence Day and the Rites of Nationalism in the Early Republic.'' (1997). 304 pp.  

* Waldstreicher, David. ''In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes: The Making of American Nationalism, 1776-1820'' (1997)

* Waldstreicher, David. ''In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes: The Making of American Nationalism, 1776-1820'' (1997)

* Warren, Charles. "Fourth of July Myths," ''William and Mary Quarterly,'' Vol. 2, No. 3 (Jul., 1945), pp. 238-272 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1921451 in JSTOR], by leading conservative scholar

* Warren, Charles. "Fourth of July Myths," ''William and Mary Quarterly,'' Vol. 2, No. 3 (Jul., 1945), pp.&nbsp;238–272 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1921451 in JSTOR], by leading conservative scholar

==References==

==References==

[[category:United States History]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:American Revolution]]

[[Category:United States Holidays]]

[[Category:United States Holidays]]