250 Years and Counting: The Birth of American Independence

We explore the 4th of July Holiday and on this, the 250th anniversary of our nation, all of the meanings of that great day.  

Transcript

250 Years and Counting:  The Birth of American Independence

July 2026

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

John Adams

We’re a bit late on this celebration.  The actual day Congress voted for Independence was July 2nd; technically, the 4th was the day the Declaration was adopted.  So now that I’ve exercised my inner Captain Pedantic, let’s discuss what this day was like from their perspectives.  In the mini-series John Adams, there is a shot of the reading with no whoops or cheers.  Everyone looks serious and sober, and they should have been.  

In the eyes of the British government, the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence committed treason, which was a crime punishable by death by being hanged, drawn, and quartered. King George III had already declared the colonies in open rebellion, making the signers legally traitors to the Crown. They were men of means and education, yet they signed the Declaration of Independence, knowing full well that the penalty could be death if they were captured. Benjamin Franklin, who, after putting his quill pen down, quipped, “We must indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall hang separately.”

I often wondered if even his level of jocularity would have been present had he known what was to come.  In a few months, Washington would be thrown out of New York, losing a host of battles.  In less than 18 months, the British Army under General William Howe would occupy the very city where the signing took place while Congress skulked off to central Pennsylvania.  Could they have known at the signing it would take another seven years, and the deaths of tens of thousands, to achieve the dream of the Declaration?  

What is so amazing about the founders is that, even knowing of the travails ahead, I believe they still would have signed. The signers featured the elite of the colonies—the wealthiest, the best lawyers and writers, and even an occasionally humble printer and sometime scientist.  Over half had attended college, whereas the average in the colonies was less than 3%.  They were not about getting wealthy, accruing power, nor maintaining the status quo.  Instead they were fighting for an ideal contained in those magical Jeffersonian words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that their Creator endows them with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”  

The inalienable rights get a lot of press, as they should; they are not just a key aspect of the American creed but something for all humanity.  But I also love the line “consent of the governed.”  For 4,800 years of written human history, a good deal of time before that, legitimacy rested with a monarch.  The Declaration said it was the people who gave the government legitimacy and not the other way round.  Simply incredible.  It is not just the birth of a nation that we are celebrating but the beginning of the implementation of an ideal that changed the way humans think about their government and their very lives.  

Here is a brief history culminating in this greatest of American days.  

The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is the most significant civic holiday in the United States. Celebrated every year on July 4th, it commemorates the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress in 1776. More than simply marking the birth of a new nation, the Fourth of July symbolizes the ideals of liberty, self-government, equality, and the enduring belief that people possess the right to govern themselves.

For nearly two and a half centuries, Americans have celebrated Independence Day through speeches, parades, military displays, fireworks, family gatherings, and public ceremonies. The nation has changed a bit since 1776, when the 13 colonies’ GDP was around $400 million.  Today it is nearly $30 TRILLION.  There were 2.5 million Americans then and 340 million today.  

Yet the Fourth of July remains one of the few holidays that unites Americans across regions and backgrounds in reflecting upon their country’s origins and aspirations.

The story of the Fourth of July begins long before 1776. During the eighteenth century, the thirteen British colonies in North America enjoyed considerable autonomy. Colonists generally considered themselves loyal subjects of the British Crown while also valuing their local self-government.

This relationship began to deteriorate following the French and Indian War (1754–1763). Britain emerged victorious but deeply in debt. To help pay for the war and maintain troops in North America, Parliament imposed a series of taxes on the colonies, including the Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act.

Many colonists argued that taxation without representation violated their rights as Englishmen. Since the colonies had no representatives in Parliament, they believed they could not legitimately be taxed by it. The phrase “No taxation without representation” became a rallying cry throughout the colonies.  And that phrase, taught to schoolchildren across the country, says a lot more than most people realize.  In a monarchical system, the people have a voice only when they are needed (to grow food or to staff armies) or when they are in revolt.  I love how in George RR Martin’s Game of Thrones all of the non-nobles are called “smallfolk.”  It captures the ethos of government for millennia.  But the colonies were not content with being barely seen and rarely heard.  They wanted representation; they wanted someone to have a seat at the table when decisions affecting their lives were made.  

The English tradition of Magna Carta began the ball rolling, but Parliament was originally conceived of as a curb on the monarch in favor of barons.  Only through hundreds of years of evolution did the representation expand.  But the colonies had none, not one single seat in a Parliament deciding how they were to be governed.  So when the near-arbitrary nature of taxation began to be inflicted, it mattered immensely.  

Tensions escalated with events such as the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. Britain’s response, known as the Intolerable Acts, convinced many colonists that their liberties were under direct assault.

In September 1774, representatives from the twelve colonies met in the First Continental Congress to coordinate resistance against British policies. Although few delegates were yet advocating complete independence, they hoped to restore their traditional rights within the British Empire.

The situation changed dramatically in April 1775 with the  Battles of Lexington and Concord. Armed conflict between colonial militia and British soldiers marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.

The Second Continental Congress convened shortly afterward. It established the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander.

Initially, many delegates still hoped for reconciliation with Britain. However, as the fighting intensified and King George III rejected petitions for peace, the movement toward complete independence gained momentum.

The pivotal moment came during the summer of 1776.

On June 7th, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution declaring that the colonies “are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.”

To explain this decision, Congress appointed a committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.

There is a debate over who should be the primary author.  Some historians note that Jefferson was elected chair of the committee.  Others suggest that Adams, as the better known of the two, would be principal. Adams later noted his reasons for preferring Jefferson: “Reason first: You are a Virginian and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second: I am obnoxious, suspected and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third: You can write ten times better than I can.” 

It is hard to think that Adams, knowing the historical importance of the document, did not itch to become its principal author.  Yet once the draft was in place, no one fought harder to get it through the rest of Congress, no easy feat with 56 men of ego on hand.  

As we know, Jefferson wrote the first draft. Drawing upon Enlightenment philosophy, especially the ideas of John Locke, he argued that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed” and that people possess natural rights including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Jeffrey Rosen and David Rubenstein, writing for Constitution.org, note, “When Jefferson wrote the preamble, it was largely an afterthought. Why is it so important today? It captured perfectly the essence of the ideals that would eventually define the United States.”

Congress debated and revised Jefferson’s draft before approving it on July 4th, 1776.

As noted, the independence vote actually occurred on July 2nd, 1776.  On that day, Congress approved Lee’s resolution declaring independence. Two days later, on July 4th, delegates approved the final wording of the Declaration itself.

Despite Adams’ belief that July 2nd would become America’s great national holiday. Instead, the public associated the new nation with the date printed on the Declaration—July 4th—which gradually became the day Americans celebrated.

The Declaration served several purposes.

First, it formally announced that the colonies were independent states.

Second, it explained to the world why independence was justified. Jefferson listed numerous grievances against King George III, portraying him as a ruler who had violated colonial rights.

Third, it articulated universal political principles that have influenced democratic movements worldwide. Among its most famous words are:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...”

Although these ideals were not fully realized in 1776—slavery remained legal, women lacked political rights, and many Indigenous peoples were excluded—the Declaration established principles that later generations would invoke in movements for abolition, civil rights, women’s suffrage, and expanded democracy.

Declaring independence did not guarantee success. The new United States still had to defeat one of the world’s strongest military powers.

The Revolutionary War lasted until 1783. American victories, aided by French military and financial support, gradually weakened British resolve. The decisive victory at the Siege of Yorktown effectively ended major fighting in 1781, and two years later the Treaty of Paris formally recognized American independence and established the new nation’s boundaries.

Even during the Revolutionary War, Americans began celebrating independence. The first celebrations featured: public readings of the Declaration, ringing church bells, military salutes, bonfires, parades, speeches, music, and, of course, fireworks.

In fact, fireworks quickly became one of the holiday’s defining traditions because they symbolized the military victories and celebratory cannon fire of the Revolution.

Throughout the nineteenth century, communities held elaborate civic festivals emphasizing patriotism and national unity.

When I first began this episode, I was startled by the day it was recognized as a national holiday.  Not until 1870 did Congress officially recognize Independence Day as a federal holiday, long after Thanksgiving, for example.  Later legislation in FDR’s New Deal era in 1938 did it become a paid federal holiday.

Today, federal offices, banks, schools, and many businesses close in observance of the holiday.

One of the more recent disappointments of our politics is that the American Flag has been dragged into much of our debate, becoming symbolic of one party or belief more than another.  This should be refuted.  The American flag should be displayed everywhere—from homes and businesses to public buildings and parade routes.

Several other symbols have become closely associated with the Fourth of July. The American flag represents the unity of the states and the nation’s history. The bald eagle, adopted as the national emblem in 1782, symbolizes freedom and strength. Fireworks recall the celebratory cannon fire of the Revolutionary era. Patriotic songs such as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” and “God Bless America” are commonly performed during holiday celebrations. Historical figures including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and other Founding Fathers are prominently remembered.

Throughout American history, Independence Day has often taken on additional meaning during times of national challenge. During the American Civil War, both the Union and Confederacy celebrated the holiday, though with different interpretations of American liberty.

During World War I and World War II, the Fourth of July emphasized national unity and democratic values.

During the Cold War, Independence Day became an occasion to contrast American constitutional government with communist systems.

Following the September 11th attacks, celebrations often highlighted national resilience and remembrance.

Although often associated with recreation and fireworks, the Fourth of July also encourages reflection on the nation’s founding ideals.

Americans continue to debate the meaning of liberty, equality, constitutional government, and civic responsibility. The Declaration of Independence provides a common point of reference in these discussions, reminding citizens that the nation was founded upon principles rather than shared ancestry or religion alone.

For many, the holiday is an opportunity not only to celebrate past achievements but also to consider how the country can better fulfill the promises expressed in 1776.

250 years after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, the Fourth of July remains one of America’s defining national observances. It celebrates both a historical event and a set of enduring ideals: freedom, representative government, the rule of law, and the belief that legitimate political authority rests upon the consent of the governed.

The holiday has evolved from modest Revolutionary-era commemorations into nationwide celebrations featuring parades, concerts, fireworks, and family gatherings. Yet its central purpose remains unchanged: to remember the founding of the United States and the principles that inspired its creation.

As each generation celebrates Independence Day, it renews a 250-year connection to the events of 1776 and to the ongoing effort to preserve and strengthen the constitutional republic established by the nation’s founders. The Fourth of July therefore stands not only as a celebration of the past but also as an annual reminder of the responsibilities that accompany freedom and self-government.  The Fourth of July, Independence Day, really, also conveys ideals, conceived two and a half centuries ago, of individual liberty and of the idea that true governmental legitimacy emanates not from one person or a subset of the people, but from all the people.  These ideals are not just for Americans, but for all of humanity.