The Young Republic

Voting

in The Young Republic:

Independence Day celebrates the day the US secured independence from the British Empire after the Revolutionary War. It falls on the the Fourth of July every year.

The Thirteen American Colonies fought to separate themselves from the UK and rule by the King - then George III.

They would become the United States of America upon signing the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July 1776.

The American forces were led by George Washington, and were supported with arms and supplies from France and Spain thanks to diplomatic efforts by Thomas Jefferson.

The Statue of Liberty - a gift from France - celebrates the US securing independence from Britain CREDIT: LUCAS JACKSON/REUTERS

The first celebration was on the Fourth of July 1777. Thirteen gunshots were fired in salute - one for each of the original American colonies. But the "Independence Day" name wasn't used until 1791.

In 1870 it was made an unpaid holiday for federal employees, and in 1938 US Congress finally made it the paid holiday it is today.

Why did the Americans want independence?

"No taxation without representation" was the cry, after a rise in Britain's national debt forced the colonists to raise import tariffs and crack down on smuggling to raise funds.

Following rebellions, they removed all but the tariff on tea. Tea was then boycotted by Americans, and in 1773 Patriots in Boston destroyed a shipment of tea - this is known as the "Boston Tea Party" today.

These rebellions over taxes led to full-scale revolutionary war.

This iconic 1846 lithograph by Nathaniel Currier was entitled "The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor"; the phrase "Boston Tea Party" had not yet become standard. Contrary to Currier's depiction, few of the men dumping the tea were actually disguised as Native Americans.[1]

Mount Rushmore, finished in 1926, celebrates two of those who did most to establish US independence - George Washington (far left) and Thomas Jefferson* (middle left), as well as Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln (far right) CREDIT: ALAMY

* Thomas Jefferson once said:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous** to our liberties than standing armies . . . If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] . . . will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered . . . The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." -- Thomas Jefferson -- The Debate Over The Recharter Of The Bank Bill, (1809)

** Bloodsucker.

Who celebrates it apart from Americans?

The Philippines and Rwanda also observe Fourth of July anniversaries for their own reasons.

The US gave the Philippines independence on that day in 1946 and the Rwandan genocide ended with US help on 4 July 1994.

Rather more bizarrely, Denmark also celebrates the US version - it started with European expats in 1911, but now is just an "excuse for a nice day out".

When is Britain's Independence Day?

Nigel Farage has made a case for the 23rd of June to be Britain's Independence Day, because we "took back control" from the European Union.

But he has been criticised for this by people who point out that liberation from colonial ownership is not really equivalent to Brexit.

And the point that most independence anniversaries around the world celebrate breaking from the British Empire has also been well made.

Boris Johnson was greeted with a rousing ovation after saying that he believed June 24 could be "independence day" for Britain.

The former mayor of London made the statement at BBC One's "great debate" at Wembley Arena, ahead of last week's EU referendum.

2016 - 1776 = 240

Sakytum - jubiliejus.

Bet ne -

ne Jubiliejaus Metai...

Lietuva buvo supervalstybė daug ilgiau nei JAV.

Net neverta bandyti lyginti.

240 metų.

The Young Republic