07.08.2016 - By Ken (Survival Guy) Jensen
What 4th of July Means to People today
Summer
BBQ
Beer
Parades
Fireworks
We have let our family gatherings and cookouts get in the way of our Independence Day knowledge.
How Schools have taught Independence Day
Revolution was declared against the British
On July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed
There was a celebration where the Liberty Bell got cracked from getting his so hard
What is the Declaration of Independence
It is a document signed by our local governing body that was done so to explain to the British King that we were tired of the British government overstepping its bounds and consistently overtaxing the people.
The first rough draft was written in the Green Dragon Tavern over a mug of ale.
This was the same as the Boston Tea Party
The Men / Signers of the Declaration of Independence
Men were revolters
Not considered stand up people
They were felons, traitors
Men of power and courage
Signed the DOI
Revolutionary War, The war for independence
April 1775, war declared on Great Britain
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
April 18th 1775
Part of a planned early warning system
One by land and Two by sea – north church steeple
To Ride to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams
Revere was caught off-guard
Then he rode, stopping at houses on his way to Lexington
Got to Adams and Hancock
Joined by rider William Dawes
Continued on to Concord
Hidden ammunition for continental army
Joined by Samuel Prescott
Intercepted by British battalion and all three arrested
Impressive turnout for war
People realized the length of it
Started waning off
Late 1776, Colonies began cash incentives
In 1778 started drafting
Many Americans (15-20%) Crown Loyalists, fought as a red coat
Native Americans were fighting on both sides
In Peace of Paris Treaty, the Crown Natives lost their land
The others made out better initially, but ultimately lost theirs as well
The entire reason why they fought with the Brits was because they wanted to save their land.
1781, war was unofficially over
1783 War was officially over when peace treaty was signed.
The liberty bell was not broken by the 4th of July celebration in 1777.
Improperly cast
Broken, recast, and broken several times
Bell was intact during the war
Wasn’t rang on the 4th
Was rang when the DOI was read aloud
Declaration of independence
Signing is why we celebrate the 4th
First draft written by Thomas Jefferson in Green D ragon.
Dependence was actually declared on July 2nd, 1776
DOI still draft, signed only by John Hancock and Charles Thompson
Congressional Leader and Secretary of congress
John Adams wrote to wife Abigail predicting July 2nd would be a holiday.
Read aloud in the city on July 8th
Play the clip
Finally Signed Aug 2, 1776
Delivered to Great Britain that following November
Why the 4th
That was the day congress stopped hashing out the draft that was submitted on the 2nd
They agreed to the wording
This date was on the newest revision that was signed in august.
Wasn’t a national holiday until 1870 (century later)
Story is this
Bunch of guys ticked off at government
High taxes
Removal of liberties