The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—celebrates the birth of American independence from the British Empire. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence.
Designated as a federal holiday across the United States in 1938, Independence Day celebrations have existed as far back as the 18th century and even the American Revo- lution. Festivities range from fire works, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
In 2026, Independence Day is on Saturday, July 4. Most federal employees are granted the day off, and many businesses are closed in observance of the holiday. When the Fourth of July falls on a weekend, it is typically observed on the closest weekday, either Friday or Monday.
Fourth of July History
When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain. Those who did were considered radical. By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.
On June 7, when the Second Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence. Amid heated debate, the Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution but appoint- ed a five-man committee-including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York—to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.
On July 2, the Continental Congress approved Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation ab- stained but later voted affirmative ly). The following day, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade… Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bon- fires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”
On July 4, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which Jefferson largely wrote. Although the vote for actual independence took place on July 2, from then on the Fourth of July became the day that was celebrated as the start of American independence.
Early July 4th Celebrations and Traditions Before the Revolution, colonists held annual celebrations of the
king’s birthday, which traditionally included the ringing of bells, bon- fires, processions and speechmak ing. By contrast, during the summer of 1776, some colonists celebrated the birth of independence by holding mock funerals for King George III as a way of symbolizing the end of the monarchy’s hold on America and the triumph of liberty.
Immediately after the declaration’s adoption, colonists celebrated with concerts, bonfires, parades and the firing of cannons and muskets. These festivities were usually accompanied by the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence.
Philadelphia held the first annual commemoration of independence on July 4, 1777, while Congress was still occupied with the ongoing war. In 1778, George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers to mark the anniversary of independence, and in 1781, several months before the key American victory at the Battle of Yorktown, Massachusetts became the first state to make July 4th an official state hol iday.
After the Revolutionary War, Americans continued to observe Independence Day every year. These celebrations allowed the new nation’s emerging political leaders to address citizens and create a feeling of unity. By the last decade of the 18th century, the two major political parties—the Federalist Party and Democratic-Republicans—that had arisen began holding separate Fourth of July celebrations in many large cities.
The tradition of patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812, in which the United States again faced Great Britain. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a holiday in Washington, D.C. The provision was expanded, granting a paid holiday to all federal employees, in 1938.
Over the years, the political importance of the holiday declined. Still, American Independence Day remains an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism.
Falling in mid-summer, the Fourth of July has since the late 19th century become a major focus of leisure activities and a common occasion for family get-togethers, often in- volving fireworks and outdoor bar becues. The most common symbol of the holiday is the American flag, and a common Fourth of July song is “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the national anthem of the United States.
--The History of Fireworks
Many historians believe that fire works originally were developed in the second century B.C. in ancient Liuyang, China. It is believed that the first natural "firecrackers" were bamboo stalks that when thrown in a fire, would explode with a bang be cause of the overheating of the hollow air pockets in the bamboo. The Chinese believed these natural "fire crackers” would ward off evil spirits.
Sometime during the period 600900 AD, legend has it that a Chinese alchemist mixed potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal to produce a black, flaky powder the first "gun powder”. This powder was poured into hollowed out bamboo sticks (and later stiff paper tubes) forming the first man made fireworks.
Fireworks made their way to Europe in the 13th century and by the 15th century they were widely used for religious festivals and public entertainment. The Italians were the first Europeans to manufacture fireworks and European rulers were especially fond of the use of fire works to “enchant their subjects and illuminate their castles on important occasions.”
Early U.S. settlers brought their love of fireworks with them to the New World and fireworks were part of the very first Independence Day a tradition that continues every 4th of July when we celebrate as John Adams had hoped “with pomp, pa- rade .bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.” Americans’ spirit of celebration continued to grow and in the late 18th century, politicians used displays to attract crowds to their speeches.
While July 4th is still the “big day”, Americans continue to use fireworks year-round to celebrate at festivals, special events, and sporting traditions such as the Olympics and Super Bowl.