Reading Comprehension · Social Studies
Independence Day
A reading lesson about Independence Day in the United States — the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and how Americans have celebrated the holiday ever since.
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Subject
Reading Comprehension
Grade Level
Grades 4–8
Format
Lesson + Printable PDF
Access
Full Member
The First Fourth of July
Many countries celebrate Independence Day to recognize freedom from the rule of another country. In the United States, Independence Day is celebrated on July 4th. Most Americans simply call it the Fourth of July. The date marks the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
By the time the Declaration of Independence was written, the Second Continental Congress had been meeting for more than a year, and the Revolutionary War had already begun. The colonies were unhappy with the high taxes imposed by Great Britain and with the fact that they could not elect their own government officials. After months of fighting, the Congress decided that complete independence was the only solution.
On July 4, 1776, delegates signed the Declaration of Independence, declaring that the colonies were no longer subject to British rule. The Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson. It took until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783 for Great Britain to accept American independence.
How Americans Celebrate the Fourth
Independence Day in the United States has been celebrated every year since the first anniversary of the signing of the Declaration. From 1777 to 1790 the day was simply called the Fourth of July. The first recorded use of the name Independence Day was in 1791, but it was not until 1870 that Congress made Independence Day an official federal holiday.
Independence Day has been celebrated in much the same way from the beginning. On July 4, 1777, the celebration included toasts to the new country, speeches, parades, music, and of course, fireworks. To this day, we celebrate the Fourth in a similar manner. Barbecues and picnics have become popular ways to celebrate alongside the traditional parades and fireworks.
American food like hamburgers and hot dogs is especially popular at Fourth of July picnics. Many people enjoy baseball, the national pastime. Patriotic music fills the air — the national anthem, “God Bless America,” “This Land Is Your Land,” and “America the Beautiful.” Some towns even stage reenactments of the signing of the Declaration or battles of the Revolutionary War.
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