The 4th of July is a holiday that means national celebration. But what that looks like has changed through the decades. From bonfires and muskets to barbecues and parades, Americans have found many ways to honor the birth of their nation. And Hawaii joined in the celebrations for the first time in 1960.
Because these celebrations have changed so much over the years, KHON2.com did a bit of digging to see what Americans have done to mark the momentous event that separated the United States from a monarchy.
Here’s what we found:
The late 1700s raw revolutionary enthusiasm
After the 13 colonies declared independence, people celebrated in loud, lively ways. They rang bells, lit bonfires, read the Declaration of Independence out loud and fired muskets into the air. Public feasts were common, and many gave speeches and toasted to liberty. Everyone was energized by the creation of a new country.
The early 1800s formal orations and toasts
Although still not a national holiday, Fourth of July events became more organized as the United States matured. Patriotic speeches were the events of the day, and they focused on remembering the American Revolution.
Many towns hosted community dinners with 13 official toasts: that’s one for each original state; and militia parades and cannon salutes showed pride in the growing national identity.
The 1820s mourning and memory
On July 4, 1826, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died. The two men had helped write and defend the Declaration of Independence. Their deaths added new meaning to the day.
Parades became more elaborate in certain large cities, and people gathered for memorials and public tributes. The 4th became a time to remember the Founding Fathers as well as to celebrate.
The 1840s and 1850s fireworks and injuries
Chinese fireworks made their way into the U.S. and grew in popularity during this decade, especially in cities like Boston and Philadelphia. They were often homemade and dangerous. Reports of injuries from firecrackers and early explosives became more common as concerns began to rise about safety during the holiday.
This is also the decade Southern states began fomenting the idea of a separate identity from their Northern counterparts over the economic practice of human slavery. The Southern Baptist Convention was created in 1845 to defend the economic practice of slavery, and many states in the South began to diverge from celebrating the 4th.
The 1860s war and 1870s reunion
The Civil War was instigated by the Southern states seceding and creating their own country (the Confederate States of America); so, the 4th of July became less and less celebrated. However, Northern states made their celebrations a bit larger to compensate for the soul crushing divide that was attempting to destroy the Union.
After the war, the former CSA states were separated into five military districts. The generals that oversaw these districts restricted celebrations of all types in the region due to worries of continued support for the CSA. So, Southerners did not really celebrate the 4th of July again until after they were officially allowed back into the Union with full rights restored.
For the North, the 4th of July became a symbol of their power over “Southern traitors” and the reunification of the U.S. Veterans marched together, and the holiday became a reminder that the country could come back together.
It was during Reconstruction that Congress made the 4th of July a federal holiday in 1870.
The 1880s federal holiday and pageantry
The 1880s marked a time when all Southern states were reintegrated back into the U.S. Towns and cities across the country responded with bigger, more planned events. Parades had floats, bands and veterans. Speeches and community picnics were popular. People saw the day as a time to express or adopt national pride.
The 1900s safety concerns and fireworks reform
Accidents from fireworks led to the “Safe and Sane Fourth” movement. Some cities banned personal fireworks. Instead, they held professional displays that people could enjoy safely. These large shows became central to the way many celebrated and led to our modern conception of community-centric fireworks displays.
The movement to create workers’ rights, women’s equality and child labor laws saw this holiday as an opportunity to bring narratives of social and economic justice to the people. Many staged protests, parades and informational speeches that linked workers’ rights with American freedom.
The 1920s jazz and modern fun
Post World War I America and the decadent Roaring 20s brought music, dancing and cars to the celebration. Bands played in town squares, parades included automobiles and picnics and outdoor concerts reflected the energy of the decade.
This decade saw much of the same as earlier decades with those promoting workers’ rights and laws to protect children.
The 1940s patriotism during war
World War II shaped how people marked the holiday. President Roosevelt saw an opportunity to maximize support for a war most Americans did not want to join. Parades included soldiers and military vehicles. Families were encouraged to support the war effort through victory gardens and food rationing. People thought deeply about what freedom meant, especially during wartime.
The 1960s barbecues and protest
With the rise of suburbs, backyard barbecues became the 4th of July tradition that we know today. Families enjoyed cookouts and watched local fireworks.
Like their forebears, this decade’s civil rights struggles meant that many used the holiday to protest and demand equality.
The way we began celebrating 4th of July during this decade permeated the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
The aughts (2000s) unity and spectacle
After the Sept. 11 attacks, the 4th of July took on a more solemn tone. Flags filled neighborhoods, and cities hosted large concerts and fireworks shows. People bought patriotic clothing and decorations, and many gatherings focused on unity and remembrance.
It was a decade when identifying as a patriotic American took on a life of its own not dissimilar to what it was like in the post-Civil War times.
Continued living tradition
The 4th of July has never stayed the same. Each generation adds its own voice to the celebration.
You can click here, here and here to read more about this history.
Whether quiet or loud, joyful or serious, the day continues to reflect what freedom means to American identity.