LEARN MORE ABOUT JULY 4th

"Independence Day: A History of July 4th",
The History Channel, 1997

This is a one-hour program available from the Main Library in videocassette format only (although we will be adding the DVD to our collection in the future, I am certain). Hosted by Harry Smith, "Independence Day" traces the history of America's national holiday, beginning with July 4, 1776, the date when the colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Many colonists at the time of the Revolution were actually against the idea of indpendence, considering themselves loyal Britons, professing complete fidelity to the Crown. Key figures such as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, who both advocated absolute severance from England before most other Founding Fathers, helped generate support for the cause. While Northern states took to indepenence relatively quickly, the South resisted, as they identified themselves more closesly with the landed gentry of the old country than did their industrialized Yankee neighbors.

The 4th of July became integral to national morale amid the bloody years of the American Revolution, which raged from 1776 through 1781. On July 4, 1777--America's first birthday--the fledgling states witnessed a grand patriotic spectacle in Philadelphia, America's brithplace, with feasting, fireworks, and even a flotilla of ships decked out in the colors of the nation: red, white, and blue. Americans, new to their identity as a sovereign state without an overseas motherland, looked to the natal anniversary of their republic for inspiration and solidarity. In the 19th century, the holiday took on similar importance after the divisive American Civil War (1861-1865), when citizens of all states desperately needed a unifying concept to bring healing after Lee's surrender at Appomatox.

The focus of Independence Day was, for almost a century, on the veterans of the nation's wars. Eighteenth-century festivities placed Revolutionary soldiers in the forefront; the 1800s reserved the honors for Revolutionary veterans as well as those from the War of 1812, the Civil War, and other military incursions. Orations and public addresses by community leaders and politicians were the order of the day following the veterans' parades. However, it was during the 1800s that the social aspect of having Americans gather simply to revel in their position as citizens of the United States began to emerge.

Churches and civic organizations began hosting patriotism programs, with civilians taking place in choral performances featuring national songs, revues reflecting historic events, and similar activities. Families would re-unite far-flung members around July 4th and take part in picnics and campfires. And, of course, the tradition of fireworks,which remains one of the most recognized and eagerly anticipated ways the holiday is celebrated, was introduced as well.

This little program delivers these and other interesting tidbits as to how America's Independence Day has been celebrated throughout our history, and makes for both entertaining and as well as eductional viewing.