The United States: Understanding July 4 th in Present Context

Enepalese Published on: July 3, 2020

The Fourth of July, also commonly known as Independence Day or July 4th or July 4, is annually celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Declaring the thirteen American colonies free and independent from England by the second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776– regarding themselves as a new nation, the United States of America– remarks the US’s national independence. The celebration of the Fourth of July from the beginning (1776) to the present day is thus regarded as the birth of American independence, which is usually associated with demonstrations of joy and festivities, such as fireworks, parades, barbecues, baseball games, carnivals, concerts, fairs, family reunions, picnics, political speeches, along with other private and public ceremonies–like acknowledging the culture, government, and history of the United States. Americans celebrate this historic event as the great national holiday with due respect to the patriotism. The document for the Declaration of Independence is formerly drafted by a committee comprising of Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston of New York. Given the Anglo-American political tradition, the anniversary of the historic event, July 4th, landmarks the rebirth of liberty and acknowledges the US’s independence, paving the successful way for her global supremacy.

Classically, there are 13 colonies, namely Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island, which participate actively on the the American Revolution. When the then Britain suffers from a heavy debt against French and Indian War or Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), the British Parliament passes the Stamp Act of 1765, seeking to collect more revenues– from all legal colonies Including the North America– and financing the large army in the North America through taxation. As a result, the thirteen original English colonies unite against the Kingdom of Great Britain because of the emperor’s Parliament’s direct taxation and “Taxation without Representation.” Given this background, the foundation of the American Revolutionary War [the American War of Independence (1775-83)] is established–raising voices against the Stamp Act of 1765, Townshend Acts of 1767, the Tea Acts of 1773. In this case, the First Continental Congress does a standard boycott of British goods, demanding the second congress. Ultimately, the Second Continental Congress issues the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Thus, the British colonists in America rebel against the rule of Great Britain to gain liberty and declare their independence in the United States of America after the approval of the “resolution of independence” by the Second Continental Congress.

In addition, despite there are various British colonies in Americas, only thirteen active British colonies participate in the American revolution–deeply looking for the independence of the colonies themselves. Even though there are a few confrontation between the colonists and the emperor power(local British army), the situation gets worse and worse with the course of time–leading to a war between colonies and Great Britain–because of some crucial reasons. First, Americans want to be ruled by the government of the people, not by a king anymore, because colonists are vigorously seeking for the balance of power between the people and the ruler. Second, the voice of the colonies becomes more prominent, electing officials and representing them in the Continental Congress when they unite to make a single government in 1774 despite having an independent local government in each colony before 1774. Since the British emperor has made some new laws and tax regulations unfavorable to the colonies after the expensive French and Indian wars, the British colonies in America start rebellions against the Great Britain–resulting in violent protests and arguing for “No Taxation without Representation.” That is, as colonists have already formed the colonial assemblies, equivalent to the parliament, electing law-making bodies and paying taxes to it, they do not realize that they ought to pay another unrepresentative taxes besides the regular taxes in their colonies. In this case, one of the most criticized and debated laws is the Stamp Act , that has reserved all the right and authorities to regulate colonies under any situations. Eventually, regardless the Stamp Act is reversed on March 1766– following months of several protest and boycotts of the British goods along with the sharp decline in the British trades– it cannot stop the American Revolutionary War against the British emperor. More importantly, the passion of Americans in favor of liberty, democracy, human rights, feelings of patriotism of American citizens towards a free and democratic nation and American beliefs about social norms, cultural values, historical customs and positive aspects of human lives establish solidarity among Americans to fight against prejudices of the British emperor for establishing public-friendly political traditions and an independent nation, the United States of America. Hence, American colonial war against the British emperor has been able to establish freedom and independence in the British-led colonies through a series of protests, arguments violence and sacrificing the lives of innocent colonial people.

What is more, the American Revolution War has crucial, significant and long-lasting consequences socially, economically, and politically not only in the U.S., but also in the global economy. First, the American continental rebellion against the unfair British tax regulations has established the today’s United States of America, that is strategically, economically and militarily powerful worldwide. Secondly, it ends the war between the imperial Britain and Americans, forming a unified nation the United States, officially signing on the Treaty of Paris by the United States government and the British Parliament, acknowledging the colonies’ independence and drawing lines between British Canada and American territory. Thirdly, the historic events of July 4 1776 has inspired many colonial Independence movements globally, such as revolts against the leadership in France, Haiti, Ireland, Poland, the Netherlands, Venezuela’s 1811 declaration of independence and throughout the Spanish empire. In addition, most new colonies and nations also pop up with democratic governments after the American Revolutionary War. Again, there also arises the situation of political and economic upheavals in Britain as a consequence of the American Revolution–resulting in short period kings in power. Fourthly, despite White men seemingly get everything after the American Revolutionary War, the story of the American War of Independence has a different story for women, African Americans and Native Americans. For example, even though women get proper schooling and educational opportunities to properly instruct their children(sons) in classical subjects, the bible and republican virtues, unfortunately African Americans have to wait until 1865 (the thirteen amendment of the constitution) to abolish slavery from the U.S. despite Americas gets its independence from Britain in 1776. Digging further, the heinous killing of the black man, such as George Floyd, recently also reveals the racism prevalent on the mindset of White people in the U.S. Finally, the American Revolution has also created new markets and new trade relationships with its own manufacturers. Consequently, the dynamics of the world has changed with the end of the American Revolutionary War after signing on the Treaty of Paris in 1783 by Britain and Americans.

Even though the battles through the American Revolutionary War end the British colonial system from Americas, there is still a lot to be done to advocate for justice and make changes primarily against domestic racism, domestic violent and heinous killing of black people, domestic administration of policing, domestic and international terror, the global pandemic (COVID-19), probable future pandemics etc in favor of “All lives Matter”, in addition to “Black Lives Matter”, because the United States of America is one of the most multicultural and diversified nations with various races and ethnic groups in much respects in the world. Despite Americas fight against Britain for freedom and rights of citizens through the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and the American Civil War (1861- 1865) also occurs because of slavery (demanding economic rights) between the Northern and the Southern United States, the Civil War still remains the fatal dispute in the United States till today–demanding for racial justice and equality in the U.S. Over the course of time, there is again a war between Britain and the USA in 1812 due to the issue of runaway slaves. It is important to note that despite slavery is abolished from the British empire in 1833, it remains in existence in the USA up to 1865 until the Civil War happens between the almost all northern and western states and the Confederate States of America (almost all southern states) in in the U.s. In this regard, the tradition of national celebration of the July 4th has become more widespread and prominent after the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. Importantly, the U.S. Congress has decided to make July 4th a federal holiday in 1870, and allow a paid holiday for all federal employees in 1941. However, it is criticized in the sense that despite the Independence Day persists a significant national holiday and an emblem of patriotism, the political importance of the celebration of holiday has been diminishing over the years. Any way, it is the moral, social, political, cultural and economic duty of the today’s politicians and policy makers of the U.S. to recognize and implement practically the unalienable rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” to all the people of different races, ethnic groups regardless of their country of origin, as per the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.

Going ahead, the American Revolution has established peace between the two nations, Great Britain and the United States, resulting in independence and sovereignty of the U.S. along with setting the foundation for socioeconomic, political and industrial development of the present U.S. During the pre-revolutionary times, despite colonists have traditionally had annual celebrations of the king’s birthday with the ringing of bells, bonfires, processions and speech-making, the U.S. starts celebrating its birth of independence–depicting mock funerals to symbolize the end of the British monarchy in the American territory and the victory of the liberty after the American War. For now, the government as well as the public should be seriously careful about the fireworks-related accidents, which can cause injuries and even deaths in many cities and states–while celebrating the July 4th. Cheerfully, the most familiar symbols of this national holiday are the American flag, and the national anthem of the United States– “The Star-Spangled Banner” ; “God Bless America.” With an amazing coincidence, the two signatories of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, serve as the presidents of the United states of America and die on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration: July 4, 1826. Similarly, another founding father–James Monroe (the third President of the United States)–, not a signatory of the Declaration of the Independence, also serve as the U.S. president and passes away on the anniversary of independence on July 4, 1831. Correspondingly, the only U.S. president who has been born on Independence Day, Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the U.S. , is born on July 4, 1872. Most importantly, by the start of the 20th century, the US as the greatest industrial power has surpassed the British Empire, the world’s most powerful superpower for more than a century during the imperial period. However, the US economy is economically challenged by the exponential growth of Chinese economy over the past few decades. I hope the U.S. government will come up with concrete plans and policies during and after the settlement of the COVID-19 pandemic so that the U.S. can again advance economically, strategically and scientifically–addressing loopholes, if any,in the US economy–to maintain its global topmost position. I think at least maintaining the global economic and strategic supremacy of the U.S., and investing more on researches and developments for her future advancements are real honors to her patriotism. The last but not least point is that the United States should be able to establish and maintain peace, harmony, brotherhood and sisterhood domestically and internationally–treating every religion, race, ethnicity, culture and individual equally and equitably. Finally, I wish all Americans a happy Fourth of July on America’s 244th Independence Day–celebrating on Saturday, July 4, 2020.

Narendra Raj Tiwari (Email: [email protected] )
PhD student (Economics) at Texas Tech University