American Independence Day

On July 4th, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously passed the Declaration of Independence; this said that the colonies were breaking away from Great Britain. The Constitution is the basis for the laws and government in the United States. But the Declaration of Independence, which says "all men are created equal," is also significant to the American people.

On the first anniversary of American freedom, people in Philadelphia threw a party on their own, which John Adams wrote about in a letter to his daughter Abigail. But Independence Day was only celebrated after the War of 1812. Soon, ceremonies to start building the Erie Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad were set to happen at the same time as the July 4th celebrations.

In 1859, the Banneker Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, told African Americans to enjoy Independence Day while showing how the ideals in the Declaration of Independence and the practice of slavery were at odds.

By the 1870s, the Fourth of July had become the most important non-religious event. On June 28th, 1870, Congress passed a law that made July 4th a government holiday. Even far-flung towns on the western border were able to get together on July 4th.

Miss Nettie Spencer said that the Fourth of July was the "big event of the year" in an interview for American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936–1940. On that day, everyone in the country came together for the only time all year.

Americans also celebrate the 4th of July by having barbecues or picnics at home or in a nearby park with their families and friends. They cook hot dogs, hamburgers, and other meat or veggies on a grill. They eat potato salad, corn on the cob, baked beans, watermelon and many sweets. Americans often go on vacation during the 4th of July because it falls during the summer break from school. Families visit national parks, mountains, beaches, and big towns throughout the United States. They go camping, go to theme parks, and stop at important national historic places. People also go to the nation's capital, Washington D.C., to enjoy the 4th of July. This holiday is a favourite in the United States because it is a fun way to celebrate the country's birthday.