Skip to main content

A Time to Celebrate!

Why Do We Celebrate the Fourth of July?Fourth of July pic
A Quickie Lesson in History
Sourced from Kids Play and Create

July 4th is Independence Day or also known as America’s birthday in the United States.
Here are some Independence Day facts for you and your children:


  • We celebrate the 4th of July because it represents the day that America became separate from British rule.



  • Under British rule the Colonists were unhappy with British government.  They felt they were unfairly taxed and had no vote on the laws that affected them.



  • The colonists decided to write a document announcing they were no longer part of the British government and they were going to be a new nation called the United States of America.



  • This document is known as the Declaration of Independence. Read more...



  • On July 4th 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed giving the United States independence from Great Britain.



  • The first person to sign the Declaration of Independence was John Hancock.



  • The Declaration of Independence was written on July 2nd 1776.



  • Thomas Jefferson is credited for writing the Declaration of Independence. However the Committee of Five (Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston) were all involved with the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.



  • The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men representing the 13 colonies.



  • The 13 colonies were: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.



  • The Declaration of Independence was written during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).



  • Did you know that when the United States gained independence the population of the country was around 2.5 million.  Today the population is around 304 million.



  • The first event celebrating the 4th of July at the Whitehouse was in 1801.



  • Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national animal of the US but he was out voted and the bald eagle became the national animal.



  • So why do we celebrate the 4th of July with parades, fireworks and BBQ?  Many believe that if has to do with a letter John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail on July 2nd 1776 about America’s Independence.  In the letter he wrote ” The day will be most memorable in the history of America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, bonfire and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward and forever more.”


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

AWESOME Dad

Well, most are! I know your kid's daddy might not be tops in your book, yet, in the eyes of your child, he probably is. I am so grateful that when my husband and I mutually took the risk to vow to spend our lives together, then had/have children, (while not always perfect) he ended up being quite the awesome dad. Assist your child in sharing his/her celebration of dad. (Um, I am sure you know, Father's Day is next Sunday, June 17th).  Here's a great way to do that, pocket $100 gift card for your kiddo, and knock out that Father's Day gift!  Here's how... Read More... For the third year in a row, Just Add Kids has partnered with Educators Credit Union  to bring you, your kids and their daddy a fun contest in celebration of Father’s Day.  This year, RelyLocal Racine is also partnering with JAK and providing a plethora of gift cards perfect for dad. So, how to participate? Kids color a portrait of their dad, grandaddy, or other fatherly figure (portrait frame and e...

Ed U K8

Why is my Child Spooning Beans?                           The Importance of a Montessori Education Sponsored by Small World Montessori At first glance, a Montessori classroom is not like that of any other.  Upon entering you may find a child spooning beans between 2 dishes, another working with a map of South America, or playing the bells by scale.  These are just a few of the unique activities in a Montessori classroom. We offer a homelike environment in which we approach education of the "whole child" through hands on, self-directed activities. How is it possible that children are working independently at their own activities?   Read More... The environment is carefully staged with progressively difficult, self-correcting materials, and most instruction is delivered one on one. Our extensive curriculum spans from 2 1/2 through 6 years old.  The mixed age classroom allows the child to work at her own pace and since instruction is individual, no child is left behind or forced...

JAK Gives Birth!

It's A Blog! If you've been a JAK Happenings subscriber for some time, you're probably used to the format of this weekly email: big JAK logo at the top, partner banner ad, this commentary section, little index box, more fantastic partner ads, then the meat of the message...JAK Happenings calendar picks, finally some closing comments. I've made excuses for my lack of editorial correctness, as I do not claim to be a writer. Just a mom who has got a lot on my mind, hoping that you don't mind listening to what's going on in this 40 something's head (and house). Apparently, many of you don't! In fact, this commentary section gets strong response in terms of how many of you click thru to Read more. I've had great feedback on some hot topics and much to my surprise, a lot of compliments. So here goes...Just Add Kids newest family member is JAKChat. It'll be a way to archive the commentary section of JAK Happenings email every week, so if you care t...