Celebrating Independence

The Fourth of July

While historians continue to bicker over the appropriate day in which independence from England was declared, July 4th has won out as the popular pick. Early on, sporadic remembrances of what the Second Continental Congress did in July of 1776 were held but nothing organized. The idea of actually celebrating independence became popular after 1815 and the American victory during the War of 1812. Some historians refer to the period from 1815 to 1820 as the Era of Good Feelings, a time when patriotism exploded. Communities got together, ate food, played games, and the town mayor or elder publicly read the Declaration of Independence.

In 1870 the US Congress made the Fourth a federal holiday and in 1941 that was extended to a paid day off. As the popularity of the day exploded, how it was celebrated also changed. The day became less about the Declaration of Independence and more about relaxing and having a good time. The growth of advertising and materialism of the 20th Century fed this evolution. Today families head off to the park or lake wearing their Fourth of July shirts. They bar-b-que until they drop and the adults tend to drink too much beer and wine. And then the day is topped off with the obligatory fireworks show. Few put any thought to what the day really represents. Hey, I do it too. I like a good hot dog as much as the next guy (although I make an effort to explain it to my kids).

A rather unique Fourth of July happened in 1826. Two of just a handful of Founding Fathers left alive, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson lay on their deathbeds and both passed by the end of the day. They were compatriots during the Revolutionary years, both were part of America's delegation to France. During the Washington presidency that friendship deteriorated because of political differences and it continued into the 1800s and Jefferson's presidency. As the men entered their twilight years the bond was reformed through a series of letters. But in the end that old competition would not die. Just minutes before he passed Adams commented, "And Jefferson lives." In fact, Thomas Jefferson died three hours earlier.

 

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

― Ronald Reagan

 

 

Posted with Blogsy