Time and time again, the fourth of July comes and goes with the common ground of barbeques and fireworks; hot dogs and sparklers; the heat and the pool.

But do we really remember what happen that faithful day on July 4, 1776 from way back when we were sitting in history class learning of our country’s independence.

If you did forgotten, or just wanted a reminder, here we go.

During 1776, we were amongst a Revolution from Great Britain (which happen to be a powerhouse country along with Spain, with control of colonies like our own of the time period).  The Revolution was to be rid of the Britain rule and to avoid to pay the outrageous taxes that the British imposed on us (funny how we still complain of our own tax problems today within our own nation), as well as poor representation overseas at the Royal Parliament to name a few reasons.

The war itself was brewing since about 1763, when the taxes from the French-Indian wars began and the British wanted the 13 colonies to pay these taxes even though a few of the colonies were representative in the war.  This started to build tensions between the two as the colonies refused to pay such an tax.

the next few years, more taxes were imposed and tensions and rebellions occurred in reaction between the actions of the former motherland.

With the First Continental Congress in 1774, the colonies began to pull away from the motherland with the refusal of British goods, (Georgia didn’t wish to take part of this Congress in hopes that Britain will help them with the Native Americans in the colony), which cut imports by 97% by the following year.

The second good part of this meeting was the Second Continental Congress in 1775.  During this year, the tension that was building finally burst with the Battle of Lexington between Colonist Militias and the British Army.

With the Second Continental Congress, they figured out how to deal with the Revolution, in turn decided to breakaway from Britain.  John Adams, our second president and first vice-president, said that the Declaration of Independence would be signed by July 2, 1776.

But after several careful revisions, Thomas Jefferson presented the document; in short, declaring the Colonies to be united as individual states that are apart from the British rule.  It was signed July 4, 1776.

However, it was believed it was not signed in its entirely until August 2, 1776, and most “states” as we know them today, didn’t fully adopted it until 1791, (because the “states” wanted a Bill of Rights on top of the Freedoms presented in the Declaration of Independence).

Going back to the story and history, obviously the British were angered by this action; and had battled hard with the American troops until 1781; when battles became few and far between until 1783 when the two sides (with the French and Native American’s siding with the US), signed the Treaty of Paris.  Ending the seven/eight year war with future allies.

That’s how we got to this point of our story.

But, here are some memorable moments to happen on the fourth.  For example, there was a celebration that involved 13 gunshots at sunrise and sunset in Bristol, Rhode Island occurred in 1777; one year after the signing of the document.  While in 1778, amongst battling with the British General George Washington had marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute.

As we wind down this tidbit of history, we celebrate this Independence Day with not just barbeques and fireworks; but the memory of what had gotten us to this point.  Where we’re going next?  But definitely not forgetting what had happen that faithful day on July 4, 1776.

The Day that the United States of America got it’s Independence.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Continental_Congress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Continental_Congress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence#Revising_instructions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28United_States%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution#The_war_winds_down