INDEPENDENCE DAY (U.S.)

The Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by delegates from the 13 colonies in 1776. The Declaration of Independence is America’s revolutionary Charter of Freedom and the document upon which the nation’s founding principles were established. The Second Continental Congress actually made its decree for freedom on July 2, 1776, signing the Lee Resolution. Two days later, on July 4, Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence and the alarm for freedom was sounded at Independence Hall with the Liberty Bell. It was on August 4, 1776, after delegates of the Continental Congress had signed the document, that The Declaration of Independence was made official. John Adams’ famous letters to his wife, Abigail, on the 3rd of July, 1776, capture the spirit of the time. Writing from Philadelphia, he said, “Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony “that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do.” “I am apt to believe (this day) will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great Anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever.” Read full letter from John Adams to his wife at founding.com/founders-library/founders-writings . Let us end this brief history of Independence Day (U.S.) with text from The Declaration of Independence: “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.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” We invite you to read a transcription of the complete text of the Declaration at www.archives.gov .

Every Year

• INDEPENDENCE DAY (U.S.)

1770s

• 1776: IN PHILADELPHIA, PA, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS APPROVED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND FORMED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• 1777: USS RANGER FLEW A U.S. FLAG MADE FROM GOWNS

1800s

• BORN 1804: NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE (AUTHOR)

1810s

• 1817: CONSTRUCTION OF ERIE CANAL BEGAN
• 1817: CONSTRUCTION OF THE ERIE CANAL BEGAN IN ROME, NEW YORK

1820s

• DIED 1826: JOHN ADAMS (2ND U.S. PRESIDENT)
• DIED 1826: THOMAS JEFFERSON (3RD U.S. PRESIDENT)
• BORN 1826: STEPHEN FOSTER (COMPOSER)
• 1828: THE BALTIMORE & OHIO RAILROAD BEGAN; IT WAS THE FIRST PUBLIC RAILROAD IN THE U.S.

1830s

• DIED 1831: JAMES MONROE (5TH U.S. PRESIDENT)

1840s

• 1845: HENRY DAVID THOREAU STARTED HIS SOJOURN IN THE WOODS AT WALDEN POND NEAR CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS

1850s

• 1855: POET WALT WHITMAN PUBLISHED THE FIRST EDITION OF LEAVES OF GRASS

1860s

• 1862: LEWIS CAROLL FIRST TOLD ALICE LIDDELL THE STORY OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND
• 1863: THE CONFEDERATES SURRENDERED TO UNION FORCES AT VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI GIVING THE UNION CONTROL OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
• 1865: LEWIS CARROLL’S ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND WAS PUBLISHED
• 1865: ALICE LIDELL RECEIVED THE FIRST COPY OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND
• BORN 1868: HENRIETTA SWAN LEAVITT (ASTRONOMER)

1870s

• BORN 1872: CALVIN COOLIDGE (30TH U.S. PRESIDENT)

1880s

• BORN 1883: REUBEN GOLDBERG (CARTOONIST)
• 1884: THE STATUE OF LIBERTY FORMALLY PRESENTED TO THE U.S. BY FRANCE

1910s

• BORN 1918: ESTHER FRIEDMAN LEDERER, PEN NAME ANN LANDERS (“ASK ANN LANDERS” ADVICE COLUMNIST; TWIN SISTER OF PAULINE FRIEDMAN PHILLIPS, THE “DEAR ABBY” COLUMNIST WHOSE PEN NAME WAS ABIGAIL VAN BUREN)
• BORN 1918: PAULINE FRIEDMAN PHILLIPS, PEN NAME ABIGAIL VAN BUREN (“DEAR ABBY” ADVICE COLUMNIST; TWIN SISTER OF “ASK ANN LANDERS” COLUMNIST ESTHER FRIEDMAN LEDERER)

1920s

• BORN 1927: NEIL SIMON (PLAYWRIGHT)

1930s

• BORN 1930: GEORGE STEINBRENNER (OWNER OF THE NEW YORK YANKEES)

1940s

• BORN 1943: GERALDO RIVERA (JOURNALIST)

1960s

• 1960: THE NEW 50-STAR FLAG IS FLOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME

1990s

• DIED 1995: EVA GABOR (ACTRESS)

2000s

• DIED 2002: BENJAMIN DAVIS, JR. (LEADER OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN AND THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GENERAL IN THE AIR FORCE)
• DIED 2003: BARRY WHITE (SINGER)
• 2003: 15-POUND 3-OUNCE AMERICAN LOBSTER CAUGHT, NEW JERSEY
• DIED 2009: STEVE MCNAIR (FOOTBALL PLAYER)

2020s

• 2020: PENUMBRAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON.

COURTESY www.almanac.com