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The United
States celebrates its Independence Day on July 4 -- a tradition that dates back
to the 18th century and the American Revolution. This is the first printed
version of the Declaration of Independence. Drafted for the most part by Thomas
Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence justified breaking the colonial ties
to Great Britain by providing a basic philosophy of government. (courtesy of
the National Archives).
On July 2, 1776,
the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence. Two days later,
delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a
historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. Some constitutional scholars
argue that Americans should mark Independence Day on July 2 because of the
historic vote.
Fireworks
In the modern
day United States, thousands of communities organize annual displays of
fireworks to celebrate the holiday. Among the most dazzling is the event that
takes place in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.
And the
tradition has a long history.
Congress
authorized the use of pyrotechnics as part of Independence Day celebrations in
1777 in Philadelphia. They’ve been a mainstay of July Fourth celebrations ever
since. In strange bit of history, three American presidents died on July 4 —
two of them “Founding Fathers:” John Adams, and the original draftsman of the
Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. In yet another odd twist of
history, the two former presidents died within hours of one another.
The fifth
president of the United States, James Monroe, also passed away on July 4. Many
other stories surround the birth of the United States. Here’s an award-winning
documentary produced by Frontline, a public affairs program that produces and
broadcasts documentaries that are distributed by the Public Broadcasting System
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