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

Post a Comment

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

June is the New Spring

April Wrap Up: Wrapped in Love                           In recognition of April being Autism Awareness month, Just Add Kids welcomes Colleen Nagle, a Burlington mom, as JAK's guest blogger. Autism is easy to misunderstand, misinterpret and mislead.  My son is the master of disguise and the best way to understand our kids is to assume nothing.  That is, assume only that they are kids, children, teens, silly, loving, intelligent and, well, simply put, no different than any other kid. Everything I have been told about Autism is wrong. Everything I know about Autism I have learned from my son.  My son with Autism.  He loves me just like his typical siblings love me, he cries when he misses me and he smiles when we are together again. Read more... He cannot speak.  He has never been able to express his favorite color or cartoon or game.  My heart longs to know him, to know the little everyday things: to know that he has favorites; to know that he likes the food I serve him; to know if ...
11 comments
Read more

Return Policy?

Take Your "SexyBack" I am admittedly square. In one of my past commentaries, " Let's Kick Some...Buttocks " I discussed the word a** and it's nonchalant usage by the masses. Well, not me, of course.  I don't carelessly drop the "a" bomb, and according to the poll we took on Just Add Kids back then, most of the participants, 84%, considered it cursing. So I guess, at least at the time I was in the majority, and laid out the rule in my home, that we don't use the word a**, or sh%#, or f@?%.  I think you get the picture. So where does the word "sexy" fall?  Great question. Read More... "Mom, Max is calling me sexy!" rats my 9 year old daughter, on her 8 year old brother. "Hello? Come again?" That's right, my son is casually describing his sister as "sexy".  Yup, that does sound a bit weird, disgusting, whatever.  I really don't think he knows exactly what he's saying, or what it means, thou...
6 comments
Read more