We’re in July already! Can you believe it! Depending on where you are in the nation, it’s extremely hot. How do you spend your time these days? Those of us who live in the U.S. are excited about this month for a significant reason. We celebrate Independence Day on July Fourth every year. People have fun and meaningful traditions that are celebrated. Although this is the case, Independence Day holds different meanings for different people. This month, we will explore the various perspectives on this day and the reasons behind them. Are the Christian values today the same or different from those of the original settlers? What will your thoughts be about this holiday after reading this post? Let’s dig in.
This Country’s History
According to our history books, this country’s birthday is July Fourth. We call it Independence Day. What was the country independent of? According to history, early colonists were asked to pay money (taxes), but were not represented in government. The British would overrule the decisions of local colonists. They would also restrict the colonist legislature. There was a Quartering Act that forced colonists to house and supply soldiers. Britain stationed troops in the colonies, even during times of peace. The British also limited who the colonists could trade with, and at what price they could trade. The colonist had to buy British goods and sell to Britain at low prices. Britain would pass laws that punished all colonies for the actions of a few (Intolerable Acts after the Boston Tea Party). Because of these things (mostly), the Founding Fathers thought they could build a government that was ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people. The goal was to create a more just, free, and equal society. Were they thinking of all people or just of themselves?
Independence Day and Indigenous People
Let’s see what Independence Day means to Indigenous people. When I think of this subject, I imagine it this way. Let’s say your family had a piece of land that was passed down from one generation to the next. Wait. Let’s change that. Let’s say that this land was an island. The family has their way of life that has been passed down from generation to generation. One day, people come to the island your family’s been on for generations. They state that they have just discovered the land and have taken full possession of the island that your family has been on for generations. This is what has happened to Indigenous People here in the U.S. The Native Americans (from many different tribes), First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people lived on this land long before any settlers arrived. Since settlers have ‘discovered’ and taken over the land, Indigenous people have experienced displacement, discrimination, and efforts to erase their heritage. Now, how do you think Independence Day feels to them? How would you feel knowing that all of this was happening to people like you?
What the Fourth of July means to African Americans
On the day that the Declaration of Independence was being signed, newspapers served notice that slove owners were offering a reward for the return of their slaves who had run away. Remember the goal of the Founding Fathers? They wanted to create a more just, free, and equal society. Yet, there were slaves and slave owners in the “Land of the Free.” In other words, the early settlers had gained political freedom while still owning slaves. At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, slavery was legal in all thirteen colonies. Key signers of the Declaration were slaveowners. Jefferson owned 600 slaves during his lifetime.
Many enslaved people fought during the Revolutionary War for their freedom. Some received their freedom, while others didn’t. The new country was divided on the subject of slavery. Slavery was not abolished in the U.S. until 1865, when the Thirteenth Amendment was passed. This was 89 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. African Americans in the U.S. have suffered dramatically as a group of people for many years. So, imagine, if you will, that this is your group of ancestors or your history. Now, how do you think you would feel about Independence Day? How do you think African Americans view this day?
What Independence Day means to People from Latin America
Did you know that Spanish-speaking people were living in America long before Jamestown, which was established before the Declaration of Independence, and the colonies began to settle in the United States? Remember Ponce De Leon in the 1500s? Remember how Spain explored new territories? Many stories can be told concerning their adventures in this nation long before it was a nation. We don’t read a lot about their contributions in our history books because traditional U.S. history focuses heavily on the 13 English colonies. Most of them settled in Florida and the southwestern part of the U.S. because it was owned by Spain for a long time. The contributions of Spanish-speaking people and allies, such as Bernardo de Gálvez, are often overlooked in textbooks. They did a lot to help make America what it is today. Their support—financial, military, and territorial—helped the U.S. win its freedom. So we can ask the same question as before. Considering that you understand and know this information, how do you think they feel about Independence Day?
Now that we have explored all this information, take a moment to think about Independence Day. How will you move forward, understanding just a little more than before? Keep in mind that we just really scratched the surface.