In the United States, Independence Day, also known as the 4th of July, is a federal holiday to celebrate the Declaration of Independence signed in 1776. This holiday is often accompanied by parades, outdoor parties. , and many public ceremonies. Since 1777, fireworks have been set off to celebrate the holiday.
When is Independence Day in the United States?
Independence Day is celebrated in the United States on July 4. Often the holiday is called the Fourth of July.
What is the Fourth of July?
The Fourth of July celebrates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The Declaration announced the political separation of the 13 North American colonies from Great Britain.
Why is the Fourth of July celebrated with fireworks?
In Fourth of July celebrations, fireworks signify national pride and patriotism. They had been used in China since at least the 12th century, and in the 15th century they became popular with European monarchs as a way to celebrate national triumphs, the restoration of peace, and the monarchs’ own birthdays. Fireworks have been part of Independence Day in the United States since its first celebration, in 1777.
Why did the North American colonies declare independence?
The Declaration of Independence, passed on July 4, 1776, reflected widespread dissatisfaction in the colonies with increased British control. Colonists especially opposed a series of unpopular laws and taxes enacted by Britain beginning in 1764, including the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and the so-called Intolerable Acts.
In the early stages of the revolutionary movement in the colonies during the 1760s and early ’70s, patriots used such celebrations to proclaim their resistance to Parliament’s legislation while lauding King George III as the real defender of English liberties. However, the marking of the first days of independence during the summer of 1776 actually took the form in many towns of a mock funeral for the king, whose “death” symbolized the end of monarchy and tyranny and the rebirth of liberty.
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