Who is independence day for

The second sentence says it all: that all people are created equally and have rights that include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Fun fact: Jefferson, who would become the third U. Today the United States and Great Britain are friends. Most Americans still celebrate Independence Day, often with parades and fireworks. Historians think this is thanks to a letter written by John Adams, who helped write the declaration and would also go on to be the second U.

It's no wonder that this holiday has turned out to be such a blast! All rights reserved. Personality Quizzes. Philadelphia held the first annual commemoration of independence on July 4, , while Congress was still occupied with the ongoing war. George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers to mark the anniversary of independence in , and in , several months before the key American victory at the Battle of Yorktown , Massachusetts became the first state to make July 4th an official state holiday.

By the last decade of the 18th century, the two major political parties—the Federalist Party and Democratic-Republicans—that had arisen began holding separate Fourth of July celebrations in many large cities.

The first fireworks were used as early as BC. The tradition of setting off fireworks on the 4 of July began in Philadelphia on July 4, , during the first organized celebration of Independence Day. The tradition of patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of , in which the United States again faced Great Britain.

In , the U. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in , the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees. Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism.

Falling in mid-summer, the Fourth of July has since the late 19th century become a major focus of leisure activities and a common occasion for family get-togethers, often involving fireworks and outdoor barbecues. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! In an letter — the last he ever wrote -- Thomas Jefferson spoke of the importance of Independence Day.

Toggle navigation. Here is the evidence, so you can decide which Independence Day is the real Independence Day! Jefferson and Adams both passed away two days later, on the Fourth of July.

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 the extraordinary document. One year later, on July 4, , Philadelphia marked Independence Day by adjourning Congress and celebrating with bonfires, bells and fireworks. The custom eventually spread to other towns, both large and small, where the day was marked with processions, oratory, picnics, contests, games, military displays and fireworks.

Observations throughout the nation became even more common at the end of the War of with Great Britain.