The Fifth Of August By Audre Lorde

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.

The strongest reason to support separation was the British Parliament made them pay, house, and care for British soldiers. The British Parliament had no right to make colonists pay money to care for their soldiers. This burden was too much to ask and it added to their anti-British feelings. The American Revolution was significant because it was the first modern revolution. The colonists banned together to fight for their rights, their rights as individuals and as a separate nation. “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately”-Benjamin Franklin. Also, the colonies fought together instead as 13 separate colonies and this helped them win. They forced power in working together and this was very beneficial to the success of keeping their individual

One of Americas biggest issues with being under the direct rule of Britain was the government. When we gained our independence, it was very important to establish a stable and working government. The Declaration of Independence was a huge part of our path towards a free and fair government and Americans were very passionate on

Today most people think of the Fourth of July as a holiday to celebrate freedom. However, in

Colonists sought independence from British government for a multitude of reasons. Tension quickly rose between England and the thirteen colonies due to the unjust taxing without fair representation in Parliament, the colonist’s rights to assemble were taken away by the British, and there were many unreasonable Acts and laws put into place in attempt to have complete control over the colonists as well as intimidate them. For these reasons and the suffering that the colonists endured at the hands of the British government, I feel that the colonists had plenty just causes to separate themselves from England.

By supporting the Revolutionaries actions to break free from British Rule, Douglass alluded to the similar fight that the American population faced to attain the same liberty that white citizens had. With the same courage the Founding Fathers had to create a free country, the American generation of 1852 faced a similar test to uphold the values of the Declaration of Independence, and liberate American slaves.7 After applauding the Founding Fathers, Douglass acknowledges that the emphasis of his speech is not to give praise, but to call on America to act on it’s own failures and begin to faithfully fulfill the nations oath.8 He asks his audience, “Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us [African Americans]?”9 This rhetorical question Douglass presents, challenges America to reevaluate what they are truly celebrating on the Fourth of July, for it is surely not the freedom in which they claim to have achieved. Douglass asserts that asking black people to rejoice in the “shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery”10 and do not respect the courage, and steps the Founding Fathers took to create a free, liberated nation.11

The Declaration of Independence written on July 4, 1776, was the first of the three documents written. When reading this document it is hard to ignore the emotion it exudes of a people not just longing for independence, but rather who’ve grown tiresome of the lack of equality compared to that of those on the motherland. The Declaration of Independence is the autonomous stance of a people declaring not just independence, but claiming their right to disassociate themselves from under the leadership from whom they consider a tyrant and therefore, “unfit” to be a leader of the free land. Unlike the US Constitution, this document discusses and/or lists in depth the atrocities and unconstitutional acts displayed by the ruler of England, the King and its theme is more so a grievance.

“April Morning” by Howard Fast is a novel that takes place during the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775. The entire book takes place during a 24 hour time period. Adam Cooper is the antagonist in this novel. When Adam goes to bed on the eve of April 18, 1775 he is a boy. When he awakens the next morning he is forced to become a man. In the early hours of the morning he, along with the rest of the town, is awakened by a lone rider racing to Lexington to warn them that a British army, of maybe a thousand men, is marching their way. Immediately the town is in a frenzy to prepare for the British arrival. The book is about Adam’s journey during the Battle of Lexington.

Independence comes wide a wide range of definitions, varying in its point of view and analysis from perspectives in scenarios that give the most fit definition. Being a memorable date where good things happened and the beginning of a new government with freedom and justice as its standards is emerging. A word which is defined by freedom in all means. A definition of open doors to new changes for better. In many eyes, these statements apply and for other do not. Douglass uses juxtaposition to denote his anger and demands to widen and bring the attention of his public: “The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony”-Douglass. Where there is joy, in other places there is sadness and death. People who had control over slaves, helped in a way to grow an economic and labor system based on oppression and

His goal was to get local people to disembody themselves from Britain.  Also written in 1776, was the Declaration of Independence which declared the official separation of the colonies from Britain.  Its main points included, why they were unhappy. wanted independence, and the main ideals of America.  Altogether, the colonies came together to create their own ideals and government by separating from

Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” encompasses a powerful meaning for the mistreated African Americans in America. It showed the other side of America’s opinion, and how they viewed the Fourth of July. The Fourth of July was supposed to be a day about Americans gaining their freedom, but not everybody gained their freedom on this day. Although Douglass gave his famous speech to a sympathetic audience, he presented a strong condemnation of America through his use of a pathos appeal and by the style of his diction.

Enlightenment ideas helped the Americans fight against British rule and create a new nation. With the fight for their new nation came the Declaration of Independence. This document is based on the beliefs of John Locke. John’s teachings mostly focused on self-government and natural rights. John Locke Believed that everyone was created equal with the same three natural rights. The Declaration of Independence argued for natural rights and equality as well. The Declaration of Independence was influenced by Locke’s idea of Equal rights and self-government. They liked the idea of a Democracy, the rule of the people. The United States’ Declaration of Independence states. The American colonist separated from Britain because King George 3rd was not governing the people correctly. For example, he created “Taxation without Representation”. Taxation without Representation is when the American Colonist were being taxed unfairly. John Locke believed the government was there to protect the people, and if they were not being protected they have the right to rebel against the ruler. This is exactly what the American colonist did. The document by the colonies declaring separation from Britain, stated. John Locke’s beliefs of self-government influenced the colonies to rebel and become it’s own

1. Thomas Jefferson explains the reason for a formal Declaration of Independence why stating the causes which impel them to separation. This is done because, according to Jefferson, without proper reasoning you cannot honestly request separation from a nation; “…a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” I do believe it was necessary for Jefferson to do so because it gives insight on the colonial minds at the time. The first reason why I believe this was necessary is because many other nations other than Britain were interested in America at the time. Examples of interested settlers included France and other European nations. Independence would have backed up the competition and officially had America as a solid nation. Another reason why I believe this was necessary is because Jefferson knew that he could plead a solid case as he came from a lawyer background. This means that he knew how to form arguments as if he were pleading for the jury of the world. In conclusion, for these reasons is why it was necessary for Jefferson to state the “causes” which impel them to separation.

Margaret Fuller Ossoli was an American transcendentalist who believed in reform. Fuller created her writings following the Civil War. She was writing during the time of Ralph Waldo Emerson. This essay, “Fourth of July”, is a snippet from her original writing, “Life Without and Life Within”. Fuller is directing this piece to future generations in hope of encouraging the transcendentalist movement. Through this writing she uses several tools and styles to persuade her audience to create a society of reform. Her powerful use of language draws in the readers while calling for political change, abolition of slavery, and a change in the way America educates its young.

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."