An article summarized by History:
The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, celebrates the birth of the United States as an independent nation. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of breaking away from Great Britain, and on July 4 it formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, largely written by Thomas Jefferson. Although the vote for independence occurred on July 2, July 4 became the date Americans commemorate as the nation's founding. The holiday was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 1938 and is observed each year with most businesses and government offices closed.
The path to independence began during the American Revolution, as growing tensions with Britain and influential writings like Thomas Paine's Common Sense convinced more colonists to support independence. After Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution calling for independence, Congress appointed a committee, including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, to draft the Declaration. Early Independence Day celebrations featured public readings of the Declaration, bonfires, parades, cannon fire, and fireworks, with Philadelphia hosting the first official anniversary celebration in 1777. George Washington even gave his troops double rations of rum to mark the occasion in 1778.
Over the centuries, Independence Day has evolved into one of America's most celebrated holidays, symbolizing freedom, patriotism, and national unity. Congress first made July 4 a holiday for federal employees in Washington, D.C., in 1870 before expanding it nationwide in 1938. Today, Americans celebrate with fireworks, parades, concerts, barbecues, and family gatherings, while displaying the American flag and honoring the country's founding ideals. Notably, Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, adding another remarkable chapter to the holiday's history.
For the article: https://www.history.com/articles/july-4th
