CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY IN REMEMBRANCE

Every July 4th Americans celebrate this date as Independence Day. However, are most Americans today aware of the many actions actually attributed to our independent freedoms?

The Revolutionary War finds its beginnings with the Stamp Act of 1765, followed by colonial unrest resisted by British Troops, culminating with Paul Revere’s ride on April 18, 1775, and his famous cry; “the British are coming”.

Historically initiated by the Colonies objections to taxations by King George III of England. The Colonists were becoming more and more vocal in their dissatisfaction with the fact that their increasing taxes gave them no voice in Parliament. Yet they ultimately remained under the governing power of the King. The King sent British Troops into Boston in an attempt to maintain order in the Colonies in September 1768 after the passing of the Townsend Acts in 1767. This did not help the discord.

On March 5, 1770, a street brawl between colonists and troops, reinforced with additional troops being sent in resulted in what came to be known as the Boston Massacre, killing five and injuring six other colonists. This insighted the British Commanders and the King followed by numerous new enforcement acts and equal retaliations from the colonists. Followed by the Tea Act (tax) of May 1773 and the retaliatory Boston Tea Party in December.

The First Continental Congress was held on September 5, 1774, through October 26, 1774, resulting in a letter to King George III telling of how the colonists felt mistreated and a demand to discontinue the Intolerable Acts imposed after the Boston Tea Party. Recourse would be a boycott of English goods. The colonists were ignored by the King and boycotts began.

The first battles that commenced were the Battle of Lexington and the Battle of Concord on April 19, 1775. More battles were fought throughout 1775 into 1781.

The formal written act toward separation from Great Britain’s rule took place on June 7, 1776 within Continental Congress in Philadelphia, when Richard Henry Lee wrote a resolution that stated: “Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

Then on June 10, 1776, when the Colonies’ Second Continental Congress formed a committee purposed with drafting a document to the task. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of The Declaration of Independence followed by 86 changes and the Continental Congress adopted the final version of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The majority of signatures were not collected until August 2, 1776.

The Alliance Treaty with France recognizing the United States as an independent country in 1778. Followed by the 1781 Articles of Confederation defined the government of the United States. Ultimately it took an additional two years before an agreement was reached between the United States and Britain in September of 1783 with the signing of the Paris Treaty. The treaty was ratified by the United States on January 14, 1784, and by King George on April 19, 1784.

Congress named Independence Day a holiday in 1870 then in 1938 it became a paid holiday for federal employees.

The first and oldest celebration took place in Bristol, Rhode Island in 1785.

Americans will consume somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 million hot dogs, spend close to $1 billion on beer and $450 million on wine. Upwards of 15,000 communities will have fireworks displays.

There will be many parties, parades, barbeques, rodeos, car races and fireworks celebrating the festivities of this day. But how many will recognize or remember the monarchy rule, the battles for independence and the deaths?

How many will recognize the Congressional assembly and actions taken for the good of this United States of America and its people?

The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights are three separate and distinct documents. The Declaration of Independence signifies the separation from an old government. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments of the Constitution. These two documents set limitations on government and reflect a fear of an overzealous government imposing its will over the people and the states. While the Constitution with its amendments were designed to create an energetic government while still restraining it.

Are our government’s Executive Branch, Congress, and Senate currently operating within these for the good of the people and states? Is our government currently adhering to the fundamental intentions of our founding fathers?

We The People are the first voice, the same as the colonists. We must speak up and contact our Mayors, Governors, Representatives, Legislative leaders. Volunteer, let our voices be heard and our votes be cast.

https://www.military.com/independence-day/history-of-independence-day.html
http://mentalfloss.com/article/502369/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-fourth-july
https://www.ducksters.com/history/continental_congress.php
https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/white-pages/the-declaration-the-constitution-and-the-bill-of-rights