The approaching July 4 marks two hundred and forty one years since the Declaration of Independence was signed and our nation was liberated from the British. This event had an immense impact on the culture of the thirteen colonies then and now. Instead of existing just for the purpose of the “Mother Country,” New England, they were a sovereign state with one centralized government, that they controlled. Numerous individuals, like Gordon S. Wood, have come out publicly to express their concern that Independence Day, the day that essentially shaped our modern civilization, is losing its significance in society today. Wood believes that humanity is obligated to know the history of Independence Day and why it is important in able to celebrate. …show more content…
Wood states, “since it [ the Declaration of Independence] is our most sacred text, the day, July 4, 1776, that gave birth to it ought to be understood with all the significance and solemnity that John Adams gave to it” (Wood). Wood thinks society need to recognize the importance behind the celebration, instead of just partying because it is a holiday, and I agree. I think to legitimately have U.S. civilians understand the purpose of July 4, you have to start at a young age, because children are the most impressionable. The government could start in schools, and explain the event with the amount of details depending on the education level. Teachers have an enormous influence on children, and having one of their role models express the importance of this event will impact them immensely. In addition to school, children are also exposed to social media, which affects a child’s mindset; therefore, T.V. providers could include the event into popular adolescent T.V. shows. A child watching their favorite T.V. show, with their favorite characters describing what the Declaration represents could spread the significance substantially among America’s youth. For the older generations, T.V. stations could also play a brief documentary on the Declaration and advertise it on newspapers and the radio. With saying this, the government should not be too strict with forcing the people to watch or listen because that contradicts statements stated in the Declaration; but, displaying awareness for this event could cause society to pay more attention to the actual significance and meaning behind July 4,
The Fourth of July is a holiday that typically involves joyous events such as barbeques, family gatherings, and quality picnics. Additionally, it is a time that can draw those who have drifted apart closer once again. However, in the 19th century as the racial and social divide deepened, the effectiveness of this national holiday came into question. Although the Fourth of July was supposed to pull the nation closer, it actually inclined some to question their place in America. This was supposed to be a unification holiday that made the country stronger. Instead, the national holiday carved a deep divide between the various groups that made up the population at that time. Furthermore, in the 19th century the Fourth of July established division between groups, cultivated questions about America’s progress as a whole, and ingrained national confusion about the purpose of this holiday.
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” is stated by Martin Luther King, Jr. This powerful quote speaks for all thirteen colonies wanting to separate themselves from Great Britain. Fifty-six men were determined to fix multiple problems by introducing the fundamental ideas through a document. The belief that was brought to attention was all men are created free and equal and own the same inherent, natural rights. The Declaration of Independence presents ,through grievances, the abuses toward the colonies by the King. The cruel acts the citizens of the colonies experienced were truly horrific, some more than others. Grievances displaying the most harm ,in my mind, are the 24th, 25th and
The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson was made in order to give the colonists a way to break free from the shackles of King George. This document has affected the building blocks of the United States and is one of the most important documents in U.S. history. The Declaration of Independance was the foundation of what this country was based on. However, what Jefferson and the other signers might not have expected is the strech, the firm words, would have across the world. The document made such an impression because it was a new and differnet way of dealing with political issues, and they weren't asking for anyones permission. It was the first document unlike anything in American
In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, former slave Frederick Douglass gave a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, instead of praising the country, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. To convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country, he uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions.
July 4, 1776, was when the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress, which is a political philosophy cultivated by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman, that stated the thirteen colonies were free and independent, and the people had natural rights to life, liberty and
Independence Day has been a very celebrated American holiday for many years. However, in the 1800s, we enslaved our own people. As “the land of the free” (a lyric in our nation anthem), abolitionists wanted America to be true to that title and rid of slavery (Document 4). The hit novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, painted a clear picture of how cruel slavery really was. This enraged the south, making statements such as “The Negro slaves of the South are the happiest, and, in some sense, the freest people in the world,” (Document 5). These two social and cultural events caused conflict between the north and south and contributed to the cause of
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote one of the most important documents in history, it basically broke us up with Britain. His reason of writing this document was to become free from England and he wasn’t the only one, he had thousands and thousands of men and women who wanted to become free from England. Thomas wrote many reason why the US wanted to break up with them and they were legit. The declaration of Independence supported the ideal of equality.
The Declaration of Independence, a key to American beliefs, had been around for one hundred years, at this time. With this in turn, the celebration of being a free country and having civil rights was ringing about. Freedmen, former
Image that someone has gone back to the time of the American Revolution. The British were over taxing the colonists when it was unfair for them to do so. All the colonists wanted was either representation in Congress or to be their own country. Things escalated to where the colonists have decided that they will be their own country. Then once the people were ready the Declaration of Independence was born claiming our freedom from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and we declared our independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. The most important ideals of the Declaration of Independence are equality; the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness; and the right to alter or abolish the government
From 1815 to 1850 there was a period of rapid change. There was geographic expansion, economic and political growth. This includes westward expansion, industrialization, expanding women’s rights, and increased immigration from European countries. American society did indeed benefit, however, not all members/sub groups of society benefit equality. The Declaration of independence says, in basic terms, that all people are equal. However, we all know this is untrue. Due to women and Native Americans not having equal political and economic rights, the Declaration of Independence did not fulfill all the ideals of all the people in the United States by 1850.
One remembers the incident because it was symbolic to them. Celebrating the 4th of July Holiday can be rightfully described as the quintessential example of symbolic interaction as a day that represents the?Declaration of Independence?and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation even though the declaration was actually made on July 2, 1776 and the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was started in June 1776; however America remembers July 4 because that was the date that found its way on the Declaration of Independence and the date we remember.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The document announced that the colonies regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states no longer under British rule. The writers of the Declaration expressed ideals stating that men are created equal and that all men have basic human rights given to them by God. The purpose of a government, according to the Founding Fathers, was to protect the basic human rights which Jefferson listed as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” However, the deplorable institution of slavery prospered after America gained its independence. African Americans were denied natural rights and were not
On Independence Day we commemorate the birth of America as a free nation. But even more than that, we commemorate the birth of Americans as free men. At a single stroke, the Declaration of Independence and its ideas set America free from England, and set Americans free from their own government. The Founding Fathers instituted America's government to protect the freedom of its citizens, and to secure their rights to "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."
My document is going to analyze the “United States Declaration of Independence” which was published on July 4th, 1776. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress, states the reasons the British colonies of North America sought independence in July of 1776. The declaration opens with a preamble describing the document's necessity, in explaining why the colonies have overthrown their ruler, and chosen to take their place as a separate nation, and to be independent in the world. The United States of America only has a little over two hundred years of history, but it is the most powerful country in this world. I want to study what could cause this country with such a short history to become so powerful.
The Declaration of Independence is a document that announced the separation of thirteen new colonies from Great Britain (Writing of Declaration of Independence). The document was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, revised by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin before handing the final draft to Congress on June 28, 1776 (Jefferson And The Declaration Of Independence). Furthermore, the draft was adopted and then signed on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress. While reading the Declaration of Independence, there are clear signs of other work being weaved into the official paper as “harmonizing sentiments of the day” (Jefferson). This included works from political idealist such as George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights and John Locke's Second Treatise of Government.