The Fourth of July holiday is based on the signing of the Declaration Of Independence. The historic document officially established the original 13 American states as a separate entity from the British Parliament on July 4, 1776. Many Americans celebrate the birthday of the United States by flying American flags, having family gatherings, and by firing off fireworks.
Cities across the United States will take turns setting off massive fireworks displays. Each American city chooses a day on or around July 4.
The first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence speaks of America’s founding fathers defining the need for the protection of basic human rights. The text explains rights based on their understanding of what they called the “Laws of Nature” or “Nature’s God.”
“When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation,” said the first paragraph of the document.
A lot has changed in America since its first year as an independent entity. In 1776 the population of the United States only consisted of about 2.5 million people. Now that population would define a small metropolitan area. Today the nation is home to an estimated 309.6 million people with cultural backgrounds that extend to almost every nation in the world.
American flags are purchased by the millions on and around July 4 every year. Ironically, they are often imported. The U.S. Census Bureau calculated that in 2009 $3 million worth of American flags were imported from different nations. An estimated $2.5 million worth of American flags that were imported came from the The People’s Republic of China, ruled by the Chinese Communist Party.
The Declaration of Independence was signed first by the now iconic patriot John Hancock. Before his signature is this final paragraph:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
Other famous signatures included on the Declaration of Independence were Samuel and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others.
Cities across the United States will take turns setting off massive fireworks displays. Each American city chooses a day on or around July 4.
The first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence speaks of America’s founding fathers defining the need for the protection of basic human rights. The text explains rights based on their understanding of what they called the “Laws of Nature” or “Nature’s God.”
“When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation,” said the first paragraph of the document.
A lot has changed in America since its first year as an independent entity. In 1776 the population of the United States only consisted of about 2.5 million people. Now that population would define a small metropolitan area. Today the nation is home to an estimated 309.6 million people with cultural backgrounds that extend to almost every nation in the world.
American flags are purchased by the millions on and around July 4 every year. Ironically, they are often imported. The U.S. Census Bureau calculated that in 2009 $3 million worth of American flags were imported from different nations. An estimated $2.5 million worth of American flags that were imported came from the The People’s Republic of China, ruled by the Chinese Communist Party.
The Declaration of Independence was signed first by the now iconic patriot John Hancock. Before his signature is this final paragraph:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
Other famous signatures included on the Declaration of Independence were Samuel and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others.
