Our nation as young as ours can be considered relatively young compared to so many others, but we have a long and rich history of important events that make our country great. One of our most celebrated celebrations is the 4th of July, commemorating the Declaration of Independence.

The 4th of July is one of the biggest holidays of the year, and it is celebrated every year on July 4th. And if you're curious about the origins of the 4th of July, you're in luck! In this blog post, let's take a look at how the 4th of July got started.

Origins of the 4th of July

The history of the United States of America has been a long and interesting story, filled with significant events. Here's a brief summary of how the 4th of July got started!

It's worth noting that at that time, the United States is very different from what it is today. Back then, the Thirteen Colonies were made up of states with a high degree of self-governance and independence from each other and Great Britain.

So there they were, enjoying their peaceful and prosperous life with a great degree of autonomy. You might be wondering why they clamored for independence when they were already enjoying peace, freedom, and prosperity. 

There were several reasons why, but the most significant reason was taxation. In 1763, the British government imposed a tax on the colonists, which was considered to be unfair because the colonies don't have a representation in the British parliament.

The Boston Tea Party

One of the goods that were being taxed was tea, and it was a drink that was very common among the colonists. When the British government decided to impose a tax on tea, the colonists were outraged. They didn't like the fact that the taxes were imposed on them without their consent.

To protest against the taxes, the colonists took action -- they proceeded to throw 342 chests of tea into Boston harbor. This event was later known as the "Boston Tea Party". Along with other events and acts of protest, this culminated in the American Revolutionary War.

American Revolutionary War

As the dissatisfaction grew, the colonies started to organize and arm themselves. The first step towards independence was taken in 1774 when the First Continental Congress met. This assembly drafted a Petition to the King and organized a boycott of British goods.

The second step was taken in 1775 when the Continental Congress met again and authorized George Washington to create a Continental Army. In July 1775, the Parliament of Great Britain declared that the Thirteen Colonies are in a state of rebellion. Thus, the American Revolution began and would last for almost a decade.

The third step -- and many argued the most important -- is the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence

One of the most important events in our history was the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4th, 1776. This document stated that the colonies were no longer part of Great Britain and that they were free and independent. The signing of the Declaration of Independence was a culmination of the Revolutionary War, and this event is often called the "birth" of the United States.

The signing took place at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The Declaration of Independence was written by a group of people known as the "Committee of Five" led by Thomas Jefferson, and the document listed 27 colonial grievances against the King of Great Britain.

Finally, the document ended with these words: "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."

The Declaration of Independence was signed by all 13 colonies. It was published a few days later for public distribution.

Fun Facts About 4th of July

Of course, this blog post wouldn't be complete without some facts about the 4th of July. There are so many fun facts about Independence Day that it would take a while to list them all. Here are just a few:

1. Our independence wasn't really declared on the 4th of July -- It actually happened on July 2nd 1776. It's important to remember that the Declaration of Independence was not signed until the 4th of July, but that the actual voting to ratify it happened on July 2nd.

2. Signing of the Declaration of Independence happened over the course of the next month. Actually, only two people signed it on July 4th -- Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress, and John Hancock of Massachusetts. 

3. 4th of July became an unpaid federal holiday in 1870, 100 years after its declaration. Congress passed H.R. 2224 that acknowledged the 4th of July as a holiday like Christmas and New Year's Eve.

4. The Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuously held Independence Day parade in the United States. Every year, they give an award to someone who has traveled the furthest just to return to Bristol for the parade.

5. Congress has designated Seward, Nebraska as "America's Official Fourth of July City - Small Town USA." Seward has only 6,000 occupants, but it grows to more or less 40,000 people during the 4th of July celebrations.

Conclusion

The 4th of July is a very important day for the United States because it showed the world that our nation is committed to protecting rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

As a nation, we're proud to celebrate our hard-fought independence. Although it happened so long ago, we can still learn many lessons from it. Likewise, we should never forget the sacrifices of those who fought so hard to make this country what it is today. Here at GetOutPass, the spirit of freedom continues to live on. We wish you a happy Fourth of July!