Did you know that three founding fathers died on the Fourth of July?

Today, the Fourth of July is best known for its red, white, and blue adornment and drinks, fireworks, and of course, family barbecues. The holiday is revered as a summertime staple, but before you break out the sparklers and sunscreen, let’s reflect on America’s history, shall we? After all, it’s through historical knowledge and personal introspection that we can develop a greater sense of empathy and gain an understanding of others’ unique experiences. Education and awareness provide individuals with the distinct ability to discern whether past mistakes are presently being repeated, a significant element that is vital for societal progression.

To take you on a journey back to primary school history class, the Fourth of July commemorates the day the United States gained independence from Great Britain in 1776. The delegates of the Continental Congress voted to declare the sovereignty of the 13 colonies on July 2nd, when it approved a resolution submitted by delegate Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.

After voting, the Continental Congress drafted a document, aka the Declaration of Independence, explaining the colonies newfound independence to the public, which was approved on July 4th in Philadelphia. However, historians have long disputed the date of its signing, and many believe it wasn’t signed by all delegates until August 2nd, 1776.

Few colonists desired complete autonomy from Great Britain when the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, so what prompted the 13 notorious colonies to earn their independence? Introducing the origin story of the United States of America.

The first colony was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, and 12 more were subsequently established. The colonies were part of Great Britain, which increased taxes for colonists on things they bought and used daily, like tea.

The Stamp Act of 1765 put a charge on papers and official documents in the American colonies but not in England and was another example of the unjust taxation.

Furthermore, the colonists' needs weren’t represented in the British government, evident by the fact that Parliament was elected by people living in England. This led to the notorious rallying cry “No taxation without representation.” Tensions heightened and eventually a war commenced, known today as the American Revolution.

The fight for the colonies’ independence ceased when Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence on the day it was adopted, July 4th, 1776.

There were 56 signatures of the Declaration of Independence, the document that announced the separation of the 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. It states “that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States,” according to National Archives.

Years after the Declaration of Independence was drafted, three founding fathers and former presidents, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Monroe, died on July 4th. Jefferson and Adams passed on the 50th anniversary of the country in 1826 and Monroe in 1831.

Although the United States gained its independence on July 4th, 1776, it wasn’t until June 19th, 1865, that true liberation was felt within the United States of America by all. On this day, the last enslaved people gained their freedom after federal troops arrived in Texas to enforce the decree that all slaves be freed.

The troops arrived two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln, who freed the slaves of the Confederate state—though because Southerners saw themselves as their own nation state, it didn’t have a resolute impact.

While the Fourth of July became a federal holiday in the United States in 1941, Juneteenth did not become a federal holiday until June 17th, 2021. Today, Juneteenth and the Fourth of July are celebrated as symbols of liberation, autonomy, and freedom, recognized indispensably.

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