The 4th of July!
It’s America’s birthday!
The United States of America counts its birthday as July 4, 1776.
Why is that a special day?
From the many years from 1607, when the English created their first permanent colony in the New World at Jamestown, Virginia, until 1776, England controlled most of the eastern part of North America. Called the 13 colonies, these colonies, from Georgia in the South to New Hampshire in the North, took their orders from London. The first settlers who came from England to live in America brought their culture, Christian religion, and of course, language, with them. That’s why the USA is an English-speaking country today, and it explains why you are reading this blog in English right now! (See how history influences the present?) Anyway, those early settlers thought of themselves as English people living in America…but still English people! At that time, the decision to move from Europe to America was nearly irreversible. Once you got on the ship, you knew you would probably never go back to Europe again. Eventually those first English settlers married, had children, and died in America. Their children almost never traveled to Europe, but because they had heard their parents talk about England often, they too thought of themselves as Englishmen…living in America. But over the years and decades, something happened. It was gradual, not sudden, but with each passing generation, the mindset slowly changed. More and more, many of the people of European descent in America no longer thought of themselves as English, or Germans, French, or Dutch, etc….but rather as something new: Americans.
So, with the passing of the years, the English people and the American people slowly drifted apart. Yes, both groups still had much in common. The most common language in the 13 colonies was English. Ships regularly traveled back and forth across the ocean, between Europe and North America. However, since America was so far from Europe, it took the average sailing ship six weeks or more to make the ocean crossing in the 1700s. At that time, if a person in America wrote a letter to a friend in Europe, it could easily take ONE YEAR to get a response. Additionally, Americans had to solve their own urgent problems like Indian attacks, building roads, and running schools, etc. In case of emergency, no one in America had time to write the King of England and ask him what to do or ask his permission to do something. In emergencies, Americans had to take the initiative and solve problems on their own. The Americans slowly began to take more responsibility for their own lives and did not look to England for as much protection and guidance.
So, by the 1760s and 1770s, when the English King, George III, kept putting more controls and taxes on the American colonists, there was more and more American anger!
At first the anger was in the forms of protests, letter-writing, etc. But eventually, it became violent, like in the Boston massacre and finally open fighting took place at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775. That was called “The shot heard round the world.” See the video! War had begun between American citizens and English soldiers.
But even though war had begun, the 13 colonies still belonged to England! For that reason, delegates from the 13 colonies met in what is now called Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to discuss possible independence. The debates went back and forth for weeks. Finally, the delegates agreed to have a team of five members write a Declaration of Independence, claiming that the United States of America is an independent country, and explaining the right to break away from England. The main author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. You can read the Declaration of Independence here. You may notice that the Declaration of Independence has many references to God.
In fact, the delegates voted for independence on July 2, but since they did not vote to accept the Declaration of Independence until July 4th, that day is now considered the USA national day. This is ironic. The actual vote for independence was on July 2, and Founding Father John Adams thought THAT would become the actual independence day. This is how he described July 2nd in a letter to his wife, Abigail: 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.”
However, since the delegates voted to approve the Declaration of Indepenence on July 4th, that has since become Americans’ national day. Read more about it from History.com.
Another interesting and ironic story: Founding Fathers John Adams (the second president) and Thomas Jefferson (the third president) worked together in the summer of 1776 to write and approve the Declaration of Independence. However, after the US won its independence and both men became political leaders in the new country, they developed a bitter rivalry. Many years later as old men, however, they buried the hatchet and became friends again. As old men, they wrote friendly letters to each other. Ironically, not only did they die on the same day, but it was on July 4th, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America. Read more about this odd coincidence here.
This video explains why we have fireworks on July 4th!
Even though the delegates voted for Independence, King George III of England did not care. He ordered armies and fleets to America, to crush the rebellion. This led to about five more years of warfare, later called the American Revolution or the War of Independence. The main American general of that war was George Washington, of Virginia, and the final main battle was Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. Do you see the Role of Virginia in USA history?! So when you study with DreyerCoaching.com, based in the US state of Virginia, not only do you learn more about English, but you learn more about American culture, history, and thinking too!
How do Americans celebrate the 4th of July today?
July 4 is a national holiday. This means there is no mail and all banks, schools and government offices are closed. Many private businesses are closed too. Since many people have the day off from work, they are able to spend the time with their family and friends. Here are some of the many things Americans do to celebrate that day.
- Because it’s summer, many people go to WATER— pools, rivers, lakes, or beaches! (See our family’s cook-out by the lake, with steaks on the grill!)
- picnics, grilling. Lots of people eat foods that are red, white and blue.
- put US flags or bunting out
- wear red, white and blue clothing or hats
- be thankful for our freedoms. In English we have a saying, “Freedom is not free.” The USA is independent, and has remained so for over 200 years, because of the brave soldiers who first won and later defended those liberties. Sometimes it’s easy to focus on the food and fun but forget the meaning.
- watch fireworks at night. It’s usually hot during the day on July 4th in much of the USA, so it feels great to go out at night, after it gets dark and cool, spread out a blanket on the ground with your family and friends, and look up at the sky and watch the great fireworks. Cities, towns, businesses, and churches across the USA sponsor fireworks shows at night. See the fireworks below in Roanoke, Virginia, where DreyerCoaching.com is headquartered.
Here is a video from the July 4th fireworks and music in Washington, DC. This link also tells more about the annual July 4th celebration in Washington DC, called “A Capitol Fourth.”
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Learn more about July 4th:
ELCivics.com (intermediate level)
ESLfast.com (intermediate level–reading, listening, and comprehension exercises)
Voice of America (advanced level)
This day in history (advanced level)
History.com (advanced level)
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Thanks for reading! I hope this gives you a better understanding of how most Americans celebrate our national day, July 4. Do you want to improve your English or understanding of life in the USA? Contact me today to find out how to join an online English class, right to your home or office, anywhere in the world! Find out how our classes run by reading this.