Independence Day
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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 Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. Still, the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades, and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. The Fourth of July 2020 is on Saturday, July 4, 2020.
On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained but later voted affirmatively). That day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that 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.”
On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, the 4th became the day celebrated as the birth of American independence.
Did you know? John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date to celebrate the birth of American independence and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of adopting the Declaration of Independence. Five years later, James Monroe passed away on the same date in 1831.
Fourth of July Becomes a Federal Holiday
The tradition of patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812 when the United States faced Great Britain again. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees.
Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism.
Falling in mid-summer, the Fourth of July has, since the late 19th century, become a major focus of leisure activities and a common occasion for family get-togethers, often involving fireworks and outdoor barbecues. The most common symbol of the holiday is the American flag, and a common musical accompaniment is “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the national anthem of the United States.
- In 1781, Massachusetts became the first of the states to make July 4th an official state holiday.
- In 1870, July 4th became a federal holiday as voted by Congress.
- Celebrating Independence Day wasn’t common until after the War of 1812. By the 1870s, the Fourth of July was one of the most important nonreligious holidays in the US.
- In 1941, it became a paid holiday for every federal employee.
- According to the US Census Bureau, 2.5 million people were living in the newly independent US on July 4, 1776, compared with 2019’s population of about 330 million.
Hillside Independence
Hillside Oil Heating & Cooling has been family-owned and independently operated for almost 70 years, servicing New Castle County, DE, Cecil County, MD, and Southern Chester County, PA. Three generations of family attitudes and values have allowed us to continue successfully serving our customers and communities. Everything about Hillside is locally owned and operated. We do not answer to any parent or mother corporation in some far-off land. Real human beings still work here and answer our phones. We have no touch-tone mazes to navigate to speak to someone who can assist or answer questions. Customer service is the most important thing. We know what it is like to be a customer and how we like to be treated. We take pride in thinking like a customer when dealing with our customers.
HAPPY 4th of JULY!!
