What makes a date different than any other date? For citizens of the United States, what makes July 4th any different than July 2nd, or July 7th perhaps?
Nothing really. Every day in and of itself is just like any other day on the calendar. The name of the day make some difference to many people throughout their lives. Sunday, for example, is reserved by most, but not all, as a day of worship. Most people work Monday through Friday, and most people spend Saturday doing family activities. These previous statements are, as stated, true for most, but not all, people. The variations are far too numerous to reiterate here, let it suffice to say there are exceptions. However, the date itself, with but a few exceptions, usually has little impact on our activities.
July 4th is one of those excepted dates. On the 4th of July, in this country, our citizens will celebrate the very reason those differences are allowed to exist. Yes, on July 4th we celebrate this countries winning of Independence from absentee rulers across the sea, earning the right to stand a Nation among Nations. As it happened, it was on, July 4 1776, the thirteen English Colonies officially Declared their Independence from the mother country. No one was much surprised at that news. War against England had already begun. Battles had been fought at Lexington, Concord, and Breed's Hill. Colonial troops had seized Ticonderoga and Crown Point. George Washington had been named to head the Colonial Army. The sprit of independence was abroad in the land. Many men were asking, with Samuel Adams, "Is not America already Independent? Why not then declare it?"
The actual birthday of the country was much quieter than later celebrations of it's anniversary. No liberty bell rang out the glad news to a waiting crowd. The great decisions for Independence had really been taken much earlier. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, moved in Continental Congress that, "These united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states." A committee was appointed to draft Declaration of Independence. Written in the largest part by Thomas Jefferson, he gave Eighteen days to the task of writing and polishing the document while Ben Franklin and John Adams added their suggestions. The Document was presented to the Continental Congress which then took its turn editing the writing, cutting some lines, changing others, and even adding a few. The final draft was formally adopted by the Continental Congress on, July 4, 1776, but it was not until three or four days later that the Declaration of Independence was read in public for the first time.
The first celebration of this countries birth date occurred in Philadelphia, on, July 8, 1776. The Declaration of Independence was read in public, bells were rung, bands played, and the people rejoiced. Copies of the Document were printed and broadcast over the land. The anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence has been celebrated on, July 4, the actual date of signing, throughout the country ever since.
Independence day, as we know it, was not officially recognized as a legal holiday until many years later. In 1941, the Congress of the United States of America, officially passed a resolution which declared, July 4, a legal public holiday. A day on which businesses, banks, and offices of the government are closed for business.