American Independence Day

4th July
A Short History of America
 First People
It is believed that the first people to reach North America came from
East Asia via a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska, which existed
only during ice age periods. This happened at least 12,000 years ago,
and could have been as long as 30,000 years ago.
 Populating the Continent
Over subsequent centuries and millennia, people spread out over the
continent living hunter-gatherer life styles. They first hunted woolly
mammoths until they became extinct, and then buffalo from the huge
herds that roamed the expansive plains.

Image: Public Domain

 Farming and Settlements

By 1,000 BC, distinct tribes of Native

Americans speaking different languages
had developed in different parts of the
country. More permanent settlements had
been established and farming practices had
been introduced.

Corn was the most important crop.

 European Exploration
AD 1000
Vikings landed in
Newfoundland
and established a
settlement called
Vinland. AD 1492
Christopher
Columbus landed
in the Bahamas
AD 1513 and then made 3
Juan Ponce de further
León landed on expeditions.
mainland America
and explored the
coasts of Florida.
 Colonisation
1607: Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America is
founded in what becomes Virginia.
1620: Pilgrims arrive from England on the Mayflower and establish the
Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts.
1664: The English seize New Amsterdam (city and colony) from the
Dutch and rename it New York.
 Events Leading up to
American Independence
1700: Population of colonists 225,000 - reaching 2,221,000 by 1770.
1770:1775 Increasing friction between colonists and the government of
Britain results in the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea party.
July 1775: American War of Independence fought between the colonies
and England begins.
4th July 1776: American Declaration of
Independence.
1778: France declares war on Great Britain.
1779: Spain declares war on Great Britain.
1783: Peace treaty signed.
 The Declaration of Independence
In 1776, the thirteen American colonies
produced a document which detailed
why they wished to break away from
British rule and become independent
states known as the United States of
America.
The document listed why the colonies
were unhappy with British rule and
explained what they believed in. The
document was signed by 56
congressmen and sent to the British
government.
On July 4th 1776, Congress officially
adopted the final version of the
Declaration of Independence.
 The History of American Independence Day
4th July 1776: The Declaration of Independence was agreed and
adopted by Congress.
1777: The anniversary of Independence was celebrated in Philadelphia
with a bonfire and fireworks and the tradition gradually spread.
1870: The 4th of July was officially recognised as a national holiday by
Congress.
 The History of American Independence Day
In America today, the 4th July is a time for people to celebrate what it
means to them to be American.

Families get together for parties and barbecues. Parades, concerts and
special sporting events are held too. Politicians often make speeches.

The American flag is much in evidence during the celebrations – it is

displayed prominently in homes and public places. Patriotic songs such as
the national anthem, ‘Star-Spangled Banner’, are played.
 Fireworks

Firework displays have become a big part of the Independence Day

tradition and spectacular displays are held everywhere.
 Interesting Facts about American
Independence Day
• 2 of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas
Jefferson and John Adams, both died on 4th July, 1826.
• Calvin Coolidge, the country's 30th president, was born on
Independence Day.
• Americans eat an estimated 155 million hot dogs on Independence
Day.
 Glossary
• Hunter-gathers: Any group of people who depend on wild foods for
survival.
• Boston Massacre: The Boston Massacre was a street fight that
occurred on 5th March, 1770, between colonists and a squad of British
soldiers. Several colonists were killed and this led to deeper anti-
British feelings.
• The Boston Tea Party: In 1773, colonists refused to pay taxes on tea
shipments and asked that the tea be returned to England. When it
wasn't, they decided to protest the unfair taxes by throwing 45 tonnes
of tea into the ocean. It was another key event in the build up to the
War of Independence.