History of Independence Day History of the Fourth of July Did you know New York City has the biggest fireworks display in the United States and that three U.S. presidents died on July 4? In 1776, 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, which America celebrates every July 4. Eleven years later, six of those men also signed a founding document that is in some ways even more important: the United States Constitution. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.— The Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America in the original printing, is the founding document of the United States. On July 4, 1776, it was adopted unanimously by the Second Continental Congress, who convened at Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in the colonial capital of Philadelphia. These delegates Nearly every printed or manuscript edition of the Declaration of Independence has slight differences in punctuation, capitalization, and even wording. To find out more about the diverse textual tradition of the Declaration, check out our Which Version is This, and Why Does it Matter? resource. The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which our government, and our identity as Americans, are based. Unlike the other founding documents, the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, but it is powerful. Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 by the Continental Congress declaring that the thirteen American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire but now the United States of America. In preparation for this patriotic observance, take a read of the Declaration of Independence (printed as an appendix to the Pocket Constitution) or Learn about the United States' founding documents, known together as the Charters of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights established the government’s structure and continue to secure the rights of American citizens. July 4th is the REAL Independence Day. It’s when America was born, period. All this talk about Juneteenth being like some second independence day is just the liberals pushing their agenda, trying to rewrite history and spread fake news. We already have a day to celebrate America, and it’s the Fourth of July. Enough with the guilt-tripping! THE 2025 SCHEDULE: May 16 – USS Constitution Crew Training June 6 – Honoring D-Day and the United States Marine Corps July 4 – Independence Day and Public Lottery* August 22 – Chief Petty Officer Heritage Week #1 August 29 – Chief Petty Officer Heritage Week #2 September 20 – Honoring Purple Heart Recipients October 21 – Commemorating USS Constitution’s Birthday Please note Hasrat Mohani was the first person in Indian History who demanded 'Complete Independence' (Azadi-e-Kaamil), at the 1929 session of the Indian National Congress, the Purna Swaraj declaration, or "Declaration of the Independence of India" was promulgated, [8] and 26 January was declared as Independence Day in 1930. [8] The Congress called on people to pledge themselves to civil disobedience and The US government is already preparing massive celebrations of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution for next July 4, the country’s semiquincentennial. It’s high time to scrap the antidemocratic system the framers bequeathed to us. Declaration of Independence, in U.S. history, document that was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and that announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. Independence Day focuses on national independence and the creation of a new nation. Juneteenth commemorates the freedom of individuals who were once enslaved and emphasizes the ongoing struggle for human rights and equality. The question of whether Juneteenth should replace Independence Day frames a broader debate about American identity. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776). On July 4, 1776, the United States officially declared its independence from the British Empire when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was authored by a “Committee of Five”—John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman—with Jefferson as the main drafter. But Jefferson himself later admitted Constitution Day, celebrated on Sept. 17, is not widely recognized, despite the importance of the document in shaping our country. We need civic education in schools to develop informed patriots. An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation 's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a military occupation, or after a major change in government. Many countries commemorate their independence from a colonial empire. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain. The Constitution provides the legal and governmental framework for the United States. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
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