In all the festivity associated with the fourth, Americans sometimes forget the history surrounding the date. The fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence this nation's official certificate of birth. Some would argue that this country was founded in 1492 when Christopher Columbus sailed the Ocean blue; however, the American spirit of freedom was not unleashed until the colonists officially won the war against British control of our land and government in 1776.

Prior to winning our freedom, American colonists mounted numerous uprisings against the British. According to researcher Kenneth Davis, as early as 1676, a man named Nathaniel Bacon wrote the "Declaration of the People." This document criticized the British for levying unfair taxes, placing favorites in high positions and not protecting the western farmers from Indians. Bacon also led a troop of poor farmers, slaves and free blacks in a skirmish against the English. Reportedly this rebellion was only one of many attempts to overthrow the British rule in the colonies. The major victories came later when the colonies united against British taxation without representation (Davis,1991).

The British required the American colonists to pay taxes on imported English products such as sugar, coffee, and wines, even though the colonists were not given voting privileges in the British parliament. The Americans protested the taxes; however, the British continued to mandate payment on all goods. In 1765, the English imposed taxes on every kind of printed material from newspapers to playing cards. When the Americans boycotted, the British sent in troops. What ensued was the Boston massacre. The first to die was Crispus Attucks, a black American.

The Boston massacre marked the beginning of the end of British rule. In 1773, the colonists decided that the British would not monopolize and tax the sale of any one item ,such as tea. On the night of December 16th, men from all ranks of society clandestinely boarded three ,tea-filled Royal Navy ships and dumped cases and cases of tea into the harbor. Shortly thereafter, the Revolutionary war began. Blacks as well as whites ,women along with men fought for the right to life free of the English government.

The victory over England was deemed a glorious occasion worthy of an annual celebration. John Adams, one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence said, "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance; it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more (Sechrist, 1984).

Until the 1900's, the firing of guns and cannons were traditionally used to commemorate the fourth. However, the firing of weapons caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, and people pleaded for a "safe and sane fourth." Ordinances were passed prohibiting weapons and the sale and use of fireworks during the fourth. To counter the attention on the fireworks, many communities stressed the patriotism of the holiday, and they still do so today (Sechrist, 1984). July 4th is the politically correct time to see and be seen in red, white and blue. The date is our birth date. Happy Birthday America!