Fourth of July History

Fourth of July History

When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain. Those who did were considered radical. By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.

On June 7, when the Second Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence. Amid heated debate, the Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution but appointed a five-man committee—including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York—to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.

Writing of Declaration of Independence

On July 2, the Continental Congress approved Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained but later voted affirmatively). The following day, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”

On July 4, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which Jefferson largely wrote. Although the vote for actual independence took place on July 2, from then on the Fourth of July became the day that was celebrated as the start of American independence.

Did you know?

John Adams believed July 2 was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence and reportedly turned down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Early July 4th Celebrations and Traditions

Before the Revolution, colonists held annual celebrations of the king’s birthday, which traditionally included the ringing of bells, bonfires, processions and speechmaking. By contrast, during the summer of 1776, some colonists celebrated the birth of independence by holding mock funerals for King George III as a way of symbolizing the end of the monarchy’s hold on America and the triumph of liberty.

Immediately after the declaration’s adoption, colonists celebrated with concerts, bonfires, parades and the firing of cannons and muskets. These festivities were usually accompanied by the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence.

Philadelphia held the first annual commemoration of independence on July 4, 1777, while Congress was still occupied with the ongoing war. In 1778, George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers to mark the anniversary of independence, and in 1781, 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.

After the Revolutionary War, Americans continued to observe Independence Day every year. These celebrations allowed the new nation’s emerging political leaders to address citizens and create a feeling of unity. 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.

Fourth of July Fireworks

The first fireworks were used as early as 200 BC. The tradition of setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July began in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, during a spontaneous citywide celebration. A ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies. The Pennsylvania Evening Post reported: “at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.” That same night, the Sons of Liberty set off fireworks over Boston Common.