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Line 48: − ==Patriot letters== − [[File:Spirit of 76.jpg|right|200px| The Spirit of '76]] − − [[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> − − {{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.}} − − In a letter written on June 24, 1826, [[Thomas Jefferson]] says, − − {{cquote|May it be to the world, what I believe it will be ... the signal of arousing men to burst the chains ... and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form, which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. ... For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.}} − − In a quote from [[John F. Kennedy]], − − {{cquote|We dare not forget that we are the heirs of that first revolution.}}
re-arranged quotes
[[File:Dcfireworks.jpg|right|200px| The Spirit of '76]]
[[File:Dcfireworks.jpg|right|200px| The Spirit of '76]]
The '''Fourth of July''' is the most important national holiday. It is the celebration of the birthday of the [[United States of America]], for on July 4th, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally adopted the [[Declaration of Independence]] and the new nation was born.<ref>The Congress had already voted for independence on July 2, 1776.</ref> The 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.'''
The '''Fourth of July''' is the most important national holiday. It is the celebration of the birthday of the [[United States of America]], for on July 4th, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally adopted the [[Declaration of Independence]], breaking ties with the Kingdom of [[Great Britain]] and the new nation was born.<ref>The Congress had already voted for independence on July 2, 1776.</ref> The 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==
[[File:Spirit of 76.jpg|right|200px]]
[[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>
{{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.}}
In a letter written on June 24, 1826, [[Thomas Jefferson]] says,
{{cquote|May it be to the world, what I believe it will be ... the signal of arousing men to burst the chains ... and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form, which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. ... For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.}}
In a quote from [[John F. Kennedy]],
{{cquote|We dare not forget that we are the heirs of that first revolution.}}
==Historic patterns==
==Historic patterns==
The Fourth is a celebration of freedom. 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 in Memphis tended to be much more subdued.
The Fourth is a celebration of freedom. 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 in Memphis tended to be much more subdued.
==See Also==
==See Also==
* [[Declaration of Independence]]
* [[Declaration of Independence]]