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...

Chill Out (and In)!

Snow Much Fun! by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann   Snow much? In my neck of the woods, wowza! Now that we have the holidays behind us, we can't ignore the fact that there are plenty of cold, winter days ahead. Fill those days in with some seasonal fun before that spring sun melts all of the white fluffy stuff. Just Add Kids has put together Snow Much Fun! It's a skating/sledding/skiing destination guide for Racine, Kenosha and surrounding communities. Read more... ICE SKATING Echo Lake, Burlington (595 Milwaukee Avenue) – Stairs to the lake, pavilion, benches, outdoor portable restroom. – Free. Devor Park, Burlington (394 Amanda Street) – Free. Frozen Fairway Skating Rink @ Twin Lakes Country Club (1230 Legion Drive) – Open Friday - Sunday (weather contingent) from 10:00am - 8:00pm.  The cost is $5.00 daily or $20 unlimited. Skate rental is available.  Free skating for all Twin Lakes Country Club Members and Junior Golf Members.  Call 262-877-8500 for more info, or ...

Silly Banned

The Rubber Obsession I think my 6 year old son was the first in his class to be told he can no longer wear his silly bands or Silly Bandz (not sure if they are the real thing, or imitation, who really cares?!) to school.  That was already back on September 2nd, his second day of first grade.  That started it's own trend, the full blown ban of those rubbery. colorful, object-shaped bracelets in his classroom.  Perhaps we'll see the full school ban in the future, or has the fad run it's course? If you're a pair of dad entrepreneurs, you hope not!  They recently jumped on the Silly Bandz craze and brought to market The Original Silly Stand , designed to do what else, but keep those crazy rubber bands organized. In my house, I think we need a Silly Bandz detector. I swear, we must have a over 100, but who even knows where they are (although I dedicated a container for each of my younger silly band wearers).  The funny thing is, my kids aren't wearing them a...