The Legacy of the Fourth of July
Each year, we celebrate a truly American holiday. Set in the heart of summer, the Fourth of July is a time to gather with family and friends, shoot off fireworks and enjoy the day. While it’s easy to get wrapped up in the festivities, it’s important to keep in mind the reason we celebrate.
In the summer of 1775, a group of delegates representing 12 of the 13 colonies came together in the Pennsylvania Statehouse to discuss how to respond to the oppressive acts of the British monarchy. War between the colonies and the empire that ruled them was already underway, as the battles at Lexington and Concord fired “the shots heard around the world.” The group, known as the Second Continental Congress, did not meet with the intention of seeking independence, but rather organizing the ongoing war effort. At the time, some thought reconciliation with the British was still possible. But as relations with Britain worsened by the summer of 1776, the Second Continental Congress concluded independence was the only option.
This was not a decision that came lightly. These men were putting not only their reputations on the line, but also their very lives. After all, their decision was nothing short of treason against the British crown. Despite the repercussions they may face, many of these men voted to declare independence on July 2, 1776. Two days later, July 4, Congress approved the text of the Declaration of Independence, which boldly proclaimed the colonies free from British rule.
As many of us know, freedom is not free. While the colonists’ bold statement would declare us free, true freedom would only come years later, through hard work, blood, sweat and tears. Aided by our French allies, we won a final, decisive victory over the British at the Battle of Yorktown in October 1781. It took eight long years of fighting, before we could finally call ourselves free of British control.
Even after the war was over, work remained to be done. The task turned from liberation to maintaining liberty. The Founders returned to where it all began, the Pennsylvania Statehouse known today as Independence Hall, to face a new challenge: creating a new government of the people, by the people and for the people. Locked away in a stuffy room during a hot and humid summer, these men worked, drafted and debated a constitution that still provides the framework for our government today.
As you can see, the Fourth of July celebrates more than just the day of the ratification of the Declaration of Independence. Marking the beginning of a great revolution that has inspired the world, it celebrates the whole endeavor toward liberty and justice for all. I believe the work the Founders started still continues today, as we work to create what the Preamble to the Constitution calls, “a more perfect union.” I’m not sure the work will ever be completed, but it beats any alternative and is certainly a goal worth striving toward.
So, as we mark the 243rd anniversary of our country’s beginnings with fireworks, parades and barbecue, I hope we take some time to think about the incredible journey our country has been on and just as importantly, where it may lead.
May God bless the United States of America. I hope you and your family have a safe and happy Fourth of July.
Please feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.