The Fourth of July, Independence Day, is without a doubt the most important national holiday of the United States of America, an iconic day, which expresses the pride of being an american. It is the best time for families to get together, have parties, barbeques and picnics, watch the shows and splendid parades organised all over the US, only to finish the day with splendid fireworks shows. Nowadays, as the role that the United State of America play worldwide greatly increased, this national holiday has become an international one, as it is celebrated - yet to a much smaller degree - in many other countries, as a sign of sympathy and friendship to the Americans. This year it is the 229th celebration of that glorious day, and despite the troubles that pledge the US, the sense of freedom and joy is still the same.
Yet many of those who do not live in the US may wonder what is the Fourth of July all about and how come it became such an important holiday ? To answer this question one must go back to the 18th century, when the idea of independence from the British Crown gained more and more followers from the colonies in America. Outraged by the increased taxation by the Motherland and the lack of real political powers, as they didn't have representatives in the British Parliament, tired to be treated like colonies, the political leaders of the soon to be independent nation wanted to break away from the British. So the leaders of the 13 colonies that existed then prepared for the worse, but their will was "Give me liberty or give me death". The conflict soon escalated into a full fledged war, as King George IIIrd sent the mighty armies of Great Britain to crush the rebellion.
The war began in April 1775 and on the 4th of June 1776 the Continental Congress began talks for promoting a declaration of independence, without knowing that this brave idea will eventually give birth to the United States of America. The talks were long and harsh, and in the end the Congress voted the so-called Lee Resolution of July 2, and on July the Fourth the Declaration of Independence, as we know it today, was ready, signed and adopted. Of the 13 colonies, only New York abstained from the vote. They would eventually win the war, crushing the strong British forces and looking into the future.
Despite the strong reaction of the British, history could not be stopped and soon the USA was born, breaking away from the British Crown and creating a New World, were many sought their refuge, fame and fortune over the next centuries.
2007-07-04
