4th of July History

In elementary school we learn of the great men who fought for our independence and liberties. We learn of the men who signed the declaration on July 4th, with John Hancock’s the biggest as he stated, “There, I guess King George will be able to read that.” But, as with most stories, that is too good to be true.

Congress passed the Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1776. Two days later, John Hancock signed, but it wasn’t his famous signature. As much as we know, John Hancock was the only man to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. The document then went to print and was lost forever. An engrossed Declaration of Independence was formed and signed by all members of congress on August 2, 1776, including John Hancock. This is where his famous signature appeared, but it was large not because he wanted King George to read it. John Hancock served as President of Congress during the signing, and as a way to approve the bill his name was written large. This is the paper on display in Washington, DC.

Some short history of July 4th from Wikipedia:

In 1777, thirteen guns were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.

In 1778, General George Washington marked Independence Day with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.

In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.

In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize Independence Day as a state celebration.

In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held the first celebration of Independence Day in the country with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled “The Psalm of Joy”.

In 1791 was the first recorded use of the name “Independence Day”.

In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.

In 1941, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday. The residents of Vicksburg, Mississippi, celebrated Independence Day for the first time since July 4, 1863, when the Siege of Vicksburg ended with a Union victory during the American Civil War.

More 4th of July stuff:
4th of July poems
4th of July quotes