ON THIS DAY: Why the Fourth of July Still Holds the Center

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence, formally severing ties with Britain and asserting that the American colonies would govern themselves. The date became a fixed point in U.S. political memory — not just a marker of independence, but of self-definition.

Though the resolution for independence passed two days earlier, July 4 appears on the document and in the public imagination. From 1777 onward, it has been observed with public events, official ceremonies, and later, national holidays. Congress designated it a federal holiday in 1870; by 1938, it was a paid day off for government workers.

Image Source: FLOTUS on X

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration set out a principle that would define the American experiment: political power flows from the people, not from monarchs. That idea — sharply stated in 1776 — has framed every major national debate since.

Today, the Fourth of July is marked across the country with parades, fireworks, flag ceremonies, and family gatherings. Public squares fill with music and speeches. From Washington’s National Mall to local parks, the observance is consistent and wide-reaching.

The date also intersects with presidential history. Jefferson and John Adams, both signers and future presidents, died on July 4, 1826 — the 50th anniversary. James Monroe followed five years later. Calvin Coolidge remains the only U.S. president born on Independence Day.

Nearly 250 years later, July 4 remains immovable in a fast-changing political landscape. It is the rare national event that cuts across partisanship, recalling not just how the U.S. began — but what it committed itself to become.