Independence Day
Independence Day is one of the most important of all American holidays.
That's the day that we celebrate our independence from England, who once controlled all of
the new colonies in the New World. In 1773, there were only 13 colonies in America. About 2
million people lived in those colonies and all 2 million people had to pay taxes to England.
The people believed this was unjust because even though they paid taxes they had no say in the
way they were being governed. They thought England was a cruel task master and so the colonists
began complaining. They decided that they would no longer pay such heavy taxes to England.
A popular saying at that time was, "No taxation without representation.
The most famous and the most hated tax was on the tea that came from
England.
One night when three English ships loaded with tea was dock in Boston Harbor, some
Americans dressed like Indians went aboard the ships and threw all the tea into the water.
This became known as "the Boston tea party." This was seen as an act of treason
by the English Crown and England sent many soldiers to America. The English soldiers killed
many Americans in what is now called the Boston Massacre.
After the Boston Massacre, the colonists formed the Constitutional Congress
which decided that America should declare its independence from England. Thomas Jefferson was
appointed to write the Declaration of Independence which was signed July 4, 1776. But this did
not guarantee America's freedom from England. Only after defeating England in a war that lasted
for five years was America free from England's control. The British army surrendered to General
Washington at Yorktown, Virginia in late 1781. The Treaty of Paris, which gave America its own
sovereignty, was signed in 1783.
 The Star-Spangled Banner: History, Words and Music.
Independence Day Word search Puzzle You can play the puzzle on-line or print it and do it off-line.
Read more about Independence Day
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