July 4th: The Power of Words and Identity

July 4th is a big deal here in the United States. There are barbecues, fireworks, picnics, parties—it’s a whole thing. To call this celebration “Independence Day,” between bites of hotdog, as we so often do, can be a bit reductive, however. July 4, 1776, (as many of us learned in 5th grade) was the day that the Second Continental Congress unanimously approved the Declaration of Independence. This is, of course, a moment worth celebrating—paradigms shifted and our nation asserted its autonomy. It is important to note, though, that the date of July 4, 1776 doesn’t mark the beginning of the American Revolution. Prior to the 4th, there was a period of civil unrest, economic turmoil, violent skirmishes, and actual battles. The Siege of Boston and Battle of Bunker Hill happened a full year earlier, in 1775.

I’ve often wondered why we celebrate the anniversary of July 4th, 1776 instead of October 19th, 1781 (the winning of the Battle of Yorktown and the unofficial end of the war), or September 3rd, 1783 (when the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the conflict). The answer, I think, has everything to do with the power of words, ideas, and identity.

When the Revolutionary War began in 1775, many of the colonists still held sympathy for their British rulers—they still felt that they, themselves, were still British. As more and more violence and upheaval befell their land, opinions changed. Through their writings, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, and others began giving these opinions solid descriptions and decisive vocabulary. The colonists began to see themselves as Americans. Although there was still a colossal war to fight, July 4th marks the culmination of chaos, unrest, civil and uncivil discourse, and hope into one unifying act.  It marks a moment where men named a movement and identified a new country.

Today, as in 1776, there is still work ahead. The history of the United States (and the world) is unfolding before us; we live in the midst of it. We are responsible for it and for each other. Our country and its citizens have as much of a journey ahead of us as we do behind. It is our duty to strive for greater equality, opportunity, and freedom for our fellow Americans. Even as we are faced with these great responsibilities, I hope that we can take a pause this weekend to celebrate a moment–a hot summer day 245 years ago when a group of people changed the world with words.