It wasn’t always fireworks on the Fourth.
John Adams predicted Americans would celebrate the Second of July, the day Congress voted in favor of independence, “with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.” He got the date wrong, but he was right about the festivities in commemoration of Independence Day. And yet July Fourth events have changed a great deal since 1776.
How do our fireworks displays, barbecues, parades, and sporting events compare to the first and earliest celebrations of independence? How and why do we celebrate the United States and its independence as we do?
Three historical experts take us through the early American origins of Fourth of July celebration.
About the Show
Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.
It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.
Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.
Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.
Episode Summary
How do our fireworks displays, barbecues, parades, and sporting events compare to the first and earliest celebrations of independence? How and why do we celebrate the United States and its independence as we do?
Historical experts Benjamin E. Park, Jay Hinesley, and Shira Lurie take us through the early American origins of Fourth of July celebration.
What You’ll Discover
- The Second of July
- Why the United States celebrates independence on the Fourth of July
- The commemorative importance of the Declaration of Independence
- Historical precedents for early Fourth of July celebrations
- How the War for American Independence influenced Fourth of July celebrations
- The politicization of early Fourth of July celebrations
- Participation in Fourth of July celebrations
- How women and African Americans celebrated the Fourth of July
- The Second Continental Congress’ vote for independence
- Why we celebrate the Fourth of July
- Philadelphia’s Fourth of July celebration on July 8, 1776
- The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence
- How Philadelphia’s loyalists reacted to independence
- Independence Day precedents set by Philadelphia
- Celebration of the first Fourth of July in 1777
- Why Americans chose the Fourth of July as their national holiday
- The Fourth of July as a civics lesson
- The fight to control the Fourth of July and its messaging
- How Federalists & Democratic-Republicans used the Fourth of July
- How Americans celebrated the Fourth of July during the late 1790s
- Inclusivity of the Fourth of July
- The legacy of Americans’ use of the Fourth of July as a political holiday
Links to People, Places, and Publications
- Benjamin E. Park
- Independence National Historical Park
- Shira Lurie
- American Nationalisms: Imagining Union in an Age of Revolutions
- Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”
- David W. Blight, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
- Journals of the Continental Congress
- Philadelphia Freedom Week
- Independence Hall Tour Tickets
- Darrell Darnell, Pro Podcast Solutions
- Chris Krimitsos
- Podfest Multimedia Expo
Sponsor Links
- Omohundro Institute
- Ben Franklin’s World Shop
- Doing History
- Emily Sneff, “The Sounds of Independence” blog post
Complementary Episodes
- Episode 018: Danielle Allen, Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality
- Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft
- Episode 119: Steve Pincus, The Heart of the Declaration
- Episode 166: Freedom and the American Revolution
- Episode 175: Daniel Epstein, House Divided: The Revolution in Ben Franklin’s House
- Episode 193: Partisans, The Friendship & Rivalry of Adams & Jefferson
- Episode 230: Mitch Kachun, First Martyr of Liberty
- Episode 243: Joseph Adelman, Revolutionary Print Networks
Questions, Comments, Suggestions
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Get in Touch! Send me an e-mail, tweet, or leave a comment.
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