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|  Fourth of July History
The most important patriotic holiday in the American calendar and in the history of America is Fourth of July by all odds. Encapsulating pride and glory, the 4th of July, marks the most significant chapter in America's history, it's the Independence Day of America, the day when Democracy was born.
On Fourth of July, 1776 America claimed independence from the British yoke, officially freeing the colonies from Britain to let themselves pursue their American dream. America was born on the 4th of July. And it also marks the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. However, freedom didn't come easy. It wasn't achieved in one day. The road to glory was long and rough. There were, of course, a series of events which led to the sweet fruits of freedom.
Asking the Continental Congress to declare the American states free from Britain, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia passed the resolution on June 7, 1776. Three days after this, a committee led by Thomas Jefferson was constituted to prepare an apt document for the purpose. This article is known as the Declaration of Independence and though the resolution was accepted on July 2, it was adopted by the Congress on the 4th of July, 1776.
Declaration Of Independence:
Fourth of July is not only a day or an occasion; it is a brand for the American spirit, courage, enterprise and for freedom, that the nation still so zealously protects. The history of the Declaration of Independence affirms this strongly. Adopted on 4th of July 1776 the document is the most fundamental declaration of America's independence from Great Britain. The draft of the Declaration of Independence was prepared mainly by Thomas Jefferson and approved by the Congress. It laid down in details the reasons for the American Revolutionary War, the reasons for separation, and the justification of the 13 colonies to be freed from Britain. Some of the important signatories included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and of course Jefferson.
The document clearly believes in the equality of all humans and their basic rights to 'life', 'liberty' and the 'pursuit of happiness'. The government which is brought to power by a democratic consent is there to ensure the proper execution of these rights. The ultimate aim is thus always the safety and happiness of the people; and the Declaration of Independence states that any government that violates this principle can be and should be removed by the people. It is very clear from the 4th of July declaration that the spirit of democracy is paramount in the American psyche that later got reflected in the American constitution.
The American Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, following strained relations between Great Britain and the 13 colonies through the 1760's and the 1770's. Contemporary social thinkers like Thomas Paine tried to influence the people on the need for a complete freedom and not just a lame reconciliation with Britain. The 'Common Sense' pamphlet was a major promotional strategy towards this end. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee from Virginia tabled the resolution to absolve all 13 colonies from Britain. With inputs from other committee members, Thomas Jefferson wrote the major part of the draft. It was rewritten omitting the points on the slave trade and criticism of the British parliament. The adopted copy was then sent for printing at the shop of John Dunlap. Around 150-200 copies were brought out through the night of the Fourth of July, which was later, called the 'Dunlap Broadsides'. While the original was never restored, 25 broadside copies still exist as remnants of the Declaration of Independence document.
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