Independence Day (United States)
independence day known colloquially fourth july federal holiday united state commemorates ratification declaration independence second continental congress july establishing united state america founding father delegate second continental congress declared thirteen colony longer subject subordinate monarch britain king george iii united free independent state congress voted approve independence passing lee resolution july adopted declaration independence two day later july independence day commonly associated firework parade barbecue carnival fair picnic concert baseball game family reunion political speech ceremony addition various public private event celebrating history government tradition united state independence day national day united state american revolution legal separation thirteen colony great britain actually occurred july second continental congress voted approve resolution independence proposed june richard henry lee virginia declaring united state independent great britain rule voting independence congress turned attention declaration independence statement explaining decision prepared committee five asked thomas jefferson author first draft jefferson consulted extensively four member committee five largely wrote declaration independence isolation day june june second floor renting threestory private home market street philadelphia known declaration house within walking distance independence hall congress debated revised wording declaration removing jefferson vigorous denunciation king george iii importing slave trade finally approving two day later july day earlier john adam wrote wife abigailthe second day july memorable epoch history america apt believe celebrated succeeding generation great anniversary festival ought commemorated day deliverance solemn act devotion god almighty ought solemnized pomp parade show game sport gun bell bonfire illumination one end continent time forward forever adams prediction two day outset american celebrated independence july date shown muchpublicized declaration independence rather july date resolution independence approved closed session congress historian long disputed whether member congress signed declaration independence july even though thomas jefferson john adam benjamin franklin later wrote signed day historian concluded declaration signed nearly month adoption august july commonly believed remarkable coincidence thomas jefferson john adam two signatory declaration independence later serve president united state died day july th anniversary declaration although signatory declaration independence james monroe another founding father elected president also died july making third president died anniversary independence u president born independence day calvin coolidge born july thirteen gunshot fired salute morning evening fell july bristol rhode island article july issue virginia gazette noted celebration philadelphia manner modern american would find familiar official dinner continental congress toast gun salute speech prayer music parade troop review firework ship port decked red white blue bunting headquarters ross hall near new brunswick new jersey general george washington marked july double ration rum soldier artillery salute feu de joie across atlantic ocean ambassador john adam benjamin franklin held dinner fellow american paris france july fell sunday holiday celebrated monday july massachusetts general court became first state legislature recognize july state celebration salem north carolina held celebration challenging music program assembled johann friedrich peter entitled psalm joy town claim first public july event carefully documented moravian church government record earlier celebration u congress made independence day unpaid holiday federal employee congress changed independence day paid federal holiday independence day national holiday marked patriotic display per usc § independence day federal holiday nonessential federal institution postal service federal court closed day legal holiday remains july date happens saturday sunday federal government employee instead take day adjacent friday monday respectively nonessential nongovernment related may also closed day family often celebrate independence day hosting attending picnic barbecue many take advantage day year long weekend gather family member friend parade often attended many town city hourslong many float participant parade often held midlate morning gettogethers longer spectacle sometimes extending early afternoon firework display typically occur evening place park harbor boat sporting venue fairground public shoreline town square decoration eg streamer balloon clothing generally colored red white blue color american flag many home business decorate property miniature american flag night fourth focal point celebration marked raucous gathering often incorporating bonfire highlight new england town competed build towering pyramid assembled barrel cask lit nightfall usher celebration highest ever salem massachusetts pyramid composed many forty tier barrel made tallest bonfire ever recorded custom flourished th th century still practiced new england northeastern town independence day firework often accompanied patriotic song starspangled banner american national anthem columbia gem ocean god bless america america beautiful country ti thee land land star stripe forever yankee doodle god bless usa dixie southern state lift every voice sing occasionally nominally fallen favor hail columbia lyric recall image revolutionary war war firework show held many state many firework sold personal use alternative public show safety concern led state ban firework limit size type allowed addition local regional condition may dictate whether sale use firework area allowed example global supply chain crisis following covid pandemic forced cancellation show local regional firework sale limited prohibited dry weather specific concern occasion public may prohibited purchasing discharging firework professional display sport event may still take place salute one gun state united state called salute union fired independence day noon capable military base new york city largest firework display country sponsored macys ton pyrotechnic exploded generally hold display east river major display seattle lake union san diego mission bay boston charles river philadelphia philadelphia museum art san francisco san francisco bay national mall washington dc annual windsor–detroit international freedom festival detroit michigan host one largest firework display north america detroit river celebrate independence day conjunction windsor ontario celebration canada day first week july typically one busiest united state travel period year many people use often threeday holiday weekend extended vacation trip held since bristol fourth july parade bristol rhode island oldest continuous independence day celebration united state since seward nebraska held celebration town square seward designated america official fourth july citysmall town usa resolution congress seward also proclaimed nebraska official fourth july city governor j james exon proclamation seward town swell july celebration since rebild society danishamerican friendship organization held july weekend festival serf homecoming danishamericans rebild hill denmark since international freedom festival jointly held detroit michigan windsor ontario last week june year mutual celebration independence day canada day july culminates large firework display detroit river famous macys firework display usually held east river new york city televised nationwide nbc locally wnbctv since firework display returned hudson river first time since commemorate th anniversary henry hudson exploration river boston pop orchestra hosted music firework show charles river esplanade called boston pop firework spectacular annually since cannon traditionally fired overture event broadcast nationally ae since cbs boston station wbztv wbz wbztv broadcast entire event locally cbs broadcast final hour concert nationally primetime national broadcast put hiatus beginning pop executive producer david g mugar believed result decreasing viewership caused nbcs encore presentation macys firework national broadcast revived expanded two hour bloomberg television took coverage duty whdh carrying local coverage beginning capitol lawn washington dc capitol fourth free concert broadcast live pb npr american force network precedes firework attracts half million people annually philippine celebrates july republic day commemorate day ceased u territory united state officially recognized philippine independence july intentionally chosen united state corresponds independence day day observed philippine independence day name july holiday changed republic day rebild national park denmark said hold largest july celebration outside united state independence day celebration mean city troisrivières quebec canada celebrates founding every july founded july troisrivières also site final battle american revolutionary war fought quebec soil june battle troisrivières also part continental army failed american invasion quebec following defeat hand british continental army retreated fort saintjean saintjeansurrichelieu quebec fort ticonderoga ticonderoga new york permanently ceasing invasion quebec july english city gloucester cathedral ring bell anthem starspangled banner every july link anthem federal holiday united state juneteenth list occasion known date born fourth july film becker carl l declaration independence study history political idea new york harcourt brace oclc retrieved july republished declaration independence study history political idea new york vintage book isbn oclc criblez adam parading patriotism independence day celebration urban midwest – dekalb il u northern illinois university press isbn oclc heintze james r fourth july celebration database american university washington dc archived original august retrieved february schauffler r h independence day celebration spirit significance related prose verse new york moffat yard company fourth july independence day usagov july u independence day civic social event u state department june fourth july oration collection division special collection archive rare book elli library university missouri