Why the 4th of July is the Date of Our Celebrated Independence

by ParentCo. July 04, 2016

We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776). It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775). Celebrations of the Fourth of July became more common as the years went on and in 1870, almost a hundred years after the Declaration was written, Congress first declared July 4 to be a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, including Christmas. Further legislation about national holidays, including July 4, was passed in 1939 and 1941.
Source: Declaration of Independence Full Text, US Independence Day Facts | Constitution Facts


ParentCo.

Author



Also in Conversations

father reading book to son and daughter
3 Ways to Raise Children who Love to Read

by Joy Turner

What if our children say “reading is boring”—how do we reset their love of reading? Here are 3 ways to put the spark back into your children’s love for books.

Continue Reading

Kid Made Recipe: Funfetti Ice Cream Sandwiches

by ParentCo.

Add rainbow sprinkles to a package of store bought cookie mix and you’re halfway done already. Who needs the ice cream truck?

Continue Reading

child playing in graden
5 Things I Hope My Children Learn From Growing a Vegetable Garden

by ParentCo.

There are endless other little lessons that I hope my children pick up on through gardening. I'm looking forward to the ones they point out to me someday.

Continue Reading