July 4th is just around the corner. What plans do you have to celebrate this holiday? My children’s book It’s Not About You Mrs. Firecracker – A Love Letter About the True Meaning of the Fourth of July is available to help you and your children learn more about this important day in our history. Why do we celebrate that day? It is not all about the food and firecrackers!
To learn more and order a copy, please CLICK HERE.
Tomorrow is the 4th of July or as Americans have come to know it as Independence Day. It is well known what this day celebrates- our hard fought independence from the British almost 250 years ago - and the many people who played key roles in the fight. We frequently think of our founding fathers as the central figures in the war. What many may not know, though, is that there were also African Americans and women who played a critical part in securing our freedom.
Salem Poor is one of those people. He was born in Massachusetts as a slave, but at the age of 22, had saved up a year’s salary so that he could buy his freedom. Once freed, he enlisted in the army and this would bring him his notoriety only a year later. Poor was instrumental in the Battle of Bunker Hill- an important battle in the fight for America’s freedom- defeating several British officers and inspiring paintings commemorating the victory.
Also Massachusetts-born was former slave Peter Salem. He was not only an important soldier in the Battle of Bunker Hill, but also in the entire American Revolutionary War. At the time of his recruitment, the Massachusetts Committee of Safety only recruited free African Americans. He traded his life as a slave to fight in the army.
Women such as Margaret Corbin also played major roles in the war. Corbin and her husband helped in defending Fort Washington, but when he got injured, she took over, manning the canon. She did not hesitate to take it upon herself to do a job meant for two.
These and many other men and women are often forgotten in history. But, do not let that happen. Teach your children about this day and all the different people who risked their lives to fight for a cause they profoundly believed in. It makes our history much more vibrant and interesting by doing so.
Is July 4th just another barbeque holiday for you and your family? Yes, it’s great to have a day off to spend time with family and friends, but July 4th has such important history behind it. Share that history with your children before you leave home.
Just what happened on that wonderful day? Our country back in the 1770s consisted of 13 colonies ruled by Great Britain. The colonists became very angry because Great Britain began imposing many taxes on them without their knowledge or representation in Parliament, and began protesting against this. In response, Great Britain sent in soldiers to quash all resistance.
The colonists chose representatives to meet to discuss what they would do. In 1774, a group of representatives formed the First Continental Congress and met in Philadelphia to begin discussing becoming independent from Great Britain. They made a list of demands to King George and began forming militias to defend themselves. The British did not back down and sent in more soldiers. In 1776, a group of men led by Thomas Jefferson were asked to write an explanation as to why the colonists wanted independence. This document became known as the Declaration of Independence. It refers to God five times, as they believed God was very important in guiding them to establish our new country and God had created us all to be free and equal.
On July 4, 1776, Congress voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence. This day has been remembered and celebrated since.