Episode Details

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.

Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/245 Sponsor Links

• Omohundro Institute
• The Ben Franklin's World Shop
• Doing History series
• Emily Sneff, "The Sounds of Independence" blog post

Complementary Episodes

• Episode 018: Danielle Allen, Our Declaration
• 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, The Revolution in Ben Franklin’s House
• Episode 193: Partisans: The Friendship and Rivalry of Adams & Jefferson
• Episode 230: Mitch Kachun, First Martyr of Liberty
• Episode 243: Joseph Adelman, Revolutionary Print Networks

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