Founding Father and the second president of the United States, John Adams, initially thought the day we would be celebrating America’s independence from the British would be July 2. That was the date in 1776 when the Second Continental Congress approved the resolution for independence, not to be confused with July Fourth, which marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence itself.
Either way, Adams captured the “Spirit of 1776” when he wrote in a letter to his wife Abigail on July 3:
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.
Here we are, one of those “succeeding Generations.” Actually, it’s been almost 13 generations since America declared its independence from the British Crown, and America is still a work in progress. So, how are we doing against his vision?
Independence Day is hardly one marked by “solemn Acts of Devotion to God.” In America, we get much closer to solemnity on the American holidays of Memorial Day or even on Thanksgiving, at least in part. But on the fourth day in July, we’re all about “pomp and parade,” along with sports, and “illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”
Americans love a good parade, our sports, and most definitely our fireworks. Add in some grilling, some food, some cold drinks, and the setting of your choice, and you have a party. If Adams were here today, I doubt the way we celebrate the holiday and the way he envisioned it would match up in a literal sense, but I think we’ve got the vibe right. Two hundred and fifty years on, contrary to what the left would have you believe, most of us are still proud to be American. We do not take this country for granted. That's why we fight for it every day.
One good thing is that for the most part on the holiday, people leave their guns locked up or in their holsters, and with the exception of the occasional leftist “peaceful protest” or a California wildfire, the “bonfires” Adams envisioned aren’t really a thing on this day.
While fireworks had been around as far back as 200 B.C., the new Americans wasted no time adopting the tradition of setting them off to mark the anniversary of the country’s independence. To be sure, there is no official record that says the country specifically followed Adams' lead on this since he expressed his vision in a private letter to his wife.
Still, the fireworks tradition did commence one year later on July 4, 1777, when in Philadelphia, there was “a spontaneous citywide celebration,” according to History.com. That same day, a ship fired its cannon 13 times in honor of the original 13 states. And according to History.com, “the Pennsylvania Evening Post reported: ‘at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.’”
The Sons of Liberty celebrated with their own fireworks at Boston Common.
In that spirit, I thought I’d leave you with two videos that say something about us Americans. You’re most likely old enough to remember when the leftist tyrants running public health tried to ban every aspect of fun and enjoyment in 2020. They used the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to exercise power over the masses as we've never seen before in this country.
But on July Fourth, the rebel in us stepped up, and across the country in defiance of our government overseers, Americans refused to abandon their fireworks tradition.
And then there is this finale from Nashville, Tenn., which may get you in the spirit of this 250th anniversary of America.
So where will you be celebrating Independence Day and watching what John Adams would call “illuminations?”
