This booklet discusses the day of independence for the USA. It also covers the significance and various celebrations related to this day.
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2. B Y THE MIDDLE OF THE 1700S, the thirteen colonies that made up part of England’s empire in the “New World” were growing impatient with the laws and restrictions set by a king 3,000 miles away. They were resentful about taxes ing five and injuring others. The incident, called the “Bos- ton Massacre,” stunned and infuriated the colonists. The second major event involved a tax on tea. Tea was a popular commodity in the colonies, but England’s tax laws gave an unfair advantage to one tea merchant, imposed upon them; they felt that they should not have the British-owned East India Company. This made the to pay British taxes because they colonists angry, and they decided to were not allowed representatives in stop buying and drinking tea from Parliament. Their sentiments were the East India Company. To drama- expressed in the slogan “Taxation tize the protest, Samuel Adams and without representation is tyranny!” other men of Boston organized the Many colonists wanted to be self- “Boston Tea Party.” On December governing and free from British rule. 16, 1773, they dressed up as Amer- But independence would be a grad- ican Indians, boarded an East India ual and painful process. Some colo- Company ship and dumped its car- nists could not forget that they were go of tea into Boston Harbor. King British citizens, and felt that they George responded by closing Boston owed allegiance to King George III. Harbor and enacting more restric- Others wanted the protection of the tions and punishments. In addition, “Mother Country.” Yet almost all he required citizens of Boston to colonists were dissatisfied with the house and feed British soldiers. way they were governed by Britain. Representatives in the Virginia Unrest and tensions continued colony took the first step toward in- to grow, and by 1765 many colonists had joined secret dependence by voting to set up a committee, the Continen- groups called “Sons of Liberty” to plan action or even tal Congress, to represent the colonies. The First Continen- violence against British authority. This angered the king tal Congress met in September of 1774 and had delegates and he sent more troops to enforce British law. The col- from twelve colonies. They drew up a list of grievances onists sometimes taunted the British soldiers or threw against the crown, and this became the first draft of the stones at them. Declaration of Independence. In the Finally, two major events strong- meantime, colonists continued to or- PREVIOUS PAGE: On every Fourth of July in Washington, ly united the colonists against Brit- D.C., a large display of fireworks fills the skies over the ganize protests against Britain, and ain, and hurried destiny. On March Capitol Building and the monuments. to train their own militias. ABOVE: The Liberty Bell, which originally came from 5, 1770, British troops fired on an England in 1752, rang to announce the signing of the The Revolutionary War began angry group of Boston citizens, kill- Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. on April 19, 1775, when British F E D E R A L H O L I D AY S 27 I N D E P E N D E N C E D AY
3. troops tried to raid the Massachusetts militia. Colonists list of grievances. John Hancock, president of the Con- were quick to form fighting units and resist the British tinental Congress, was the first to sign. The document, troops. In May of 1775 the Second Continental Con- the Declaration of Independence, was considered trea- gress met, and elected Virginia delegate George Wash- sonous by the crown, and the fifty-six men who signed ington to be Commander in Chief of the Continental it were in danger of being executed. Yet on July 4, 1776, Army. He led American troops against the British the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of throughout the war. For the next eight years, colonists Independence, officially breaking bonds with England fought fervently for independence. They were not as and forming a new independent nation, the United well trained or well equipped as British troops, but States of America. they had other advantages: They had a fierce and unit- Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 because on ed purpose; they fought on familiar terrain; and they that day independence from Britain was officially de- used new tactics learned from the Native inhabitants. clared. On July 8, 1776, the Declaration of Independence They often had no uniforms, but their clothing helped was read publicly for the first time and people celebrated. camouflage them in the forests, while the British sol- Bells rang out, bands played, and ships fired their guns; diers, called “Red Coats,” were highly visible in their people lit candles and set off firecrackers. But the War of bright red uniforms. Independence dragged on until 1783 when independence During the fight for freedom, another war—a war was finally won. That year, Independence Day was made of words—was being waged in a holiday in the thirteen new states. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On But not until 1941 was Indepen- July 2, 1776, the Continental Con- Above: The Declaration of Independence was signed on dence Day officially declared a fed- gress prepared a second draft of the July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. eral legal holiday. I n d e p e n d e n c e d ay 28 F e d e r a l H o l I d ay s
4. John Adams, who became the Second President of Harbor in full sail on the Fourth of July, and the Bos- the United States, was one of the signers of the Declara- ton Pops Orchestra will play a musical concert of pa- tion of Independence. He wrote to his wife, “I…believe triotic songs as hundreds of people watch fireworks that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as burst over the water. the great anniversary festival.... It ought to be [celebrat- ed] with pomp and parades, with shows, games, sports, The Liberty Bell guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all this continent to the other...” the inhabitants thereof.” John Adams’ words may have predicted or in- The sight and sound of a ringing bell on the Fourth spired future Independence Day celebrations. Early In- of July symbolizes freedom to most Americans and dependence Day, or “Fourth of July,” celebrations did, brings to mind the Liberty Bell, which rang out in Phil- indeed, include games and sports events, shows, mili- adelphia when the new country was born. tary parades, fireworks, and the liberal firing of guns The Liberty Bell once hung in the Old State House, and cannons. But the firearms and fireworks caused which later became Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. many injuries, and even deaths. So in the early 1900s, It was rung at every important national event, such as citizens convinced officials to prohibit guns and to presidential elections, statesmen’s funerals, and of course, control the use of fireworks on Independence Day. The the Fourth of July. The bell came to Philadelphia from phrase, “a safe and sane Fourth” became a popular a foundry in England in 1752. But the very first time slogan, and is still used today to encourage safety and the bell was rung, it cracked! Repairs were made and common sense on the Fourth of July. Today, many cit- for the next eighty-three years, the bell tolled on special ies prohibit fireworks or allow only small items like occasions—the most significant on July 8, 1776 to an- cherry bombs and sparklers. Some cities organize a lo- nounce the signing of the Declaration of Independence. cal fireworks show, run by trained pyrotechnics Sometime after 1846, the Liberty Bell cracked again specialists. and it was removed from the bell tower to protect it Every Fourth of July Americans have a holiday from further damage. It was placed on display in Inde- from work or school. Communities and families have pendence Hall. Today, the bell is housed in the Liberty all-day picnics with favorite foods like hot dogs and Bell Center, which is open to visitors year round, and is hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, pie, and wa- part of the Independence National Historic Park. termelon. Afternoon activities would not be complete At one time, the foundry in England that had made without lively music, a friendly baseball game, or Fris- the bell generously offered to take the cracked bell, bee toss, and maybe, a three-legged race, and a pie-eat- melt it down and cast it anew, at no charge. But Amer- ing or watermelon-eating contest. Some cities have pa- ican officials decided to keep the old Liberty Bell as it rades with people dressed as the original “founding was. They felt that the American people loved the old fathers” or early colonists, who march to the music of bell, and that the crack in the bell was a cherished part high school bands. At dusk, people gather to watch of its character and legacy. the city fireworks display. In many areas of the coun- try, special events take place. America,The Beautiful For example, a Freedom Festival is held in Phila- From time to time, it is suggested that the song, delphia, Pennsylvania, at Independence Hall, where “America the Beautiful” be made the national anthem, the Declaration of Independence was signed. Cos- in place of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” [See Flag Day, tumed Americans often reenact historical scenes, and p. 87] Proponents of this idea argue that “America the read the Declaration of Indepen- Beautiful” is a better national an- dence for the crowd. In Massachu- them because it praises the whole setts, the ship U.S.S. John F. Following page: Mount Shasta in the Cascades country, not only the flag, and it Kennedy may come in to Boston rises magnificently to 4,317 meters above northern was not written as a result of a war. California. F e d e r a l H o l I d ay s 29 I n d e p e n d e n c e d ay
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6. America, The Beautiful F e d e r a l H o l i d ay s 31 I n d e p e n d e n c e D ay
7. Also, it is much easier to sing. “America the Beautiful” fervently: adv. strongly; passionately was written in 1893 by Katherine Lee Bates, a writer terrain: n. land and its physical features and professor at Wellesley College. While on vacation, tactic(s): n. strategies; methods she took a ride up Pike’s Peak, a mountaintop in Colora- inhabitant(s): n. resident; person who lives in a specific do, and saw a spectacular view that few people in those place days had the opportunity to see. The “spacious skies” camouflage: v. to hide or conceal by blending in with and “purple mountains” inspired her to write a poem, the surroundings which was eventually published. The public loved the visible: adj. able to be seen; clearly seen poem, and it was often put to music using any tune that wage(d): v. to engage in; to carry on fit the lyrics. Eventually, the poem was set to the music treasonous: adj. acting against one’s own country of a hymn, “Materna,” by Samuel Ward, and this is the execute(d): v. to kill by official order firecracker(s): n. type of firework that explodes with a song that Americans know and love today as the most bang and a flash of light when lit. See fireworks. beautiful tribute to their country. pomp: n. great ceremony or display bonfire(s): n. large public fire used for celebration or other event restriction(s): n. rules; regulations predict(ed): v. to suggest or see the future impose(d): v. to force upon fireworks: n. any type of explosive that produces a sentiment(s): n. strong feelings bright display or loud noise, used for celebration slogan: n. saying or phrase that expresses the feelings liberal: adj. free; uncontrolled; excessive or cause of a group firearm(s): n. gun, cannon, or other such weapon tyranny: n. unjust or cruel use of power prohibit: v. to not allow; to forbid gradual: adj. slow; little by little sane: adj. mentally stable; using good judgement allegiance: n. loyalty cherry bomb(s): n. small round explosive that looks unrest: n. public dissatisfaction or rebellion like a cherry and explodes with a loud crack when tension(s): n. strained or hostile relations thrown on the ground taunt(ed): v. to tease in a hostile way sparkler(s): n. a type of fireworks on a long stick which destiny: n. fate; future sends out sparks and flashes of light when lit massacre: n. execution of a large number of people pyrotechnics specialist(s): n. phrase. person trained in stun(ned): adj. shocked; surprised the safe use of fireworks and skilled in elaborate fire- infuriate(d): adj. greatly angered works presentations commodity: n. product or good which is bought or Frisbee: n. brand name of a flat, round, plastic disk sold that is thrown and caught as a sports activity advantage: n. benefit, gain, or profit three-legged race: n. phrase. a foot race in which one dramatize: v. to emphasize in a vivid or emotional way person’s left leg is tied to another person’s right leg, dress(ed) up: v. phrase. to wear a costume and they run tied together on “three legs” cargo: n. a load of goods or raw materials carried by founding fathers: n. phrase. the men who wrote and ship or airplane signed the Constitution and led the United States in its enact(ing): v. to make official; to make into a law early years house: v. to provide lodging or shelter reenact: v. to perform or act out a scene or event from grievance(s): n. complaint the past crown: n. monarchy; the king and his rule burst: v. to explode or break open with force militia(s): n. local, state or reserve military force, called foundry: n. factory where items are made from melted in for emergencies ore and metal raid: v. to attack for the purpose of stealing goods and toll(ed): v. to ring supplies bell tower: n. a tall structure where bells are hung I n d e p e n d e n c e D ay 32 F e d e r a l H o l i d ay s
8. cast: v. to shape melted metal anew: adv. in a new manner; once more cherish(ed): adj. loved and respected legacy: n. special history or anything that is handed down from one generation or era to the next anthem: n. a song that is symbolic of a people, a group, a culture, a movement; usually a song of praise proponent(s): n. one who supports or agrees with a cause or idea spacious: adj. having a lot of space; wide and open hymn: n. religious song or melody F e d e r a l H o l i d ay s 33 I n d e p e n d e n c e D ay
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