Since 1941, Independence Day, popularly known as the Fourth of July, has been a federal holiday in the United States. However, this tradition of celebrating this day is rooted in the American Revolution and the 18th century.
The Continental Congress, on July 2, 1776, voted in favour of Independence and on July 4, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. Since then, July 4 has celebrated the start of American Independence.
Richard Henry Lee, the Virginia delegate, introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ Independence on June 7 during a meeting with the Continental Congress at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. After intense debates, Congress set up a five-person committee to write a formal statement to justify the break with Great Britain.
The Continental Congress voted in favour of Lee’s motion for Independence on July 2. On the 4th of July, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which was written mainly by Thomas Jefferson. This marked the beginning of the July 4 celebrations.
These festivities began immediately after the adoption of the declaration of Independence, and on July 4, 1777, while the war was ongoing, Philadelphia held the first annual remembrance of Independence on July 4, 1777. To mark the day, George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers on July 4, 1778.
After the war, July 4 became an annual celebration. During the first organized celebration in Philadelphia, the ship’s cannon, in honour of the 13 colonies, fired a 13-gun salute on the 4th of July,1777. In Boston common, the sons of liberty also set off fireworks.
After the war in 1812, in which the USA fought against Britain, the tradition of July 4 became more popular, and in 1870, the United States Congress made it a federal holiday. However, it was in 1941 that a provision was extended to make it a paid holiday for federal employees.
