Independence

Every country has a special day to celebrate that country. Sometimes it is the country’s birthday. Sometimes it is for a revolution.

In the United States, we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th. We remember this day as the beginning of the United States.

When do we celebrate Independence Day?* –> July 4th (July fourth)

But why do we celebrate Independence Day? What does it mean to people in the United States?

We can find the answers in the history of the British colonies from 300 years ago. Colonists came to America for freedom. But, the colonies were still part of the British Government.

The British Government and the King of England chose the leaders of the colonies. Many colonists wanted to choose their own leaders.

The British Government and the King of England made taxes higher and higher. More and more colonists were unhappy with the government.

More and more American colonists made a new government. Each colony had representatives in this congress. Soon, they made an army.

They started a revolution to make changes in North America. They fought the British because of high taxes and because they wanted to choose their own leaders.

Why did the colonists fight the British? –> High taxes

The British did not want to make changes to the 13 colonies. The British military and government fought back.

More and more colonists wanted to make a new country. They wanted to be free from Great Britain and the king of England.

So, they wrote the Declaration of Independence. It said that the United States is free.

What did the Declaration of Independence do? –> It said the United States is free

The Declaration of Independence is a break-up letter with the British government and King of England. It has a list of all the problems with the British government.

It says that all people have the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The American colonists said that the British did not give them life or liberty.

What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? –> Life and Liberty

Many American colonists talked about the ideas in the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Jefferson was one of the founding fathers of America. This means he was one of the men who helped start the United States. Later, Jefferson became the third president of the United States.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? –> Thomas Jefferson

The new American congress had a vote to agree with the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4th, 1776.

Be careful: was adopted = in the past, in history, in 1776.

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? –> July 4th, 1776

Civics Review

1. Why did the colonists fight the British?
2. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*
3. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
4. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
5. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
6. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

From Tuesday:

1. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
2. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
3. What is one reason colonists came to America?
4. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
5. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
6. There were 13 original states. Name three.