United States celebrates Independence Day. It declared itself free of English rule in 1776. Interestingly, only two people, John Hancock and Charles Thompson, signed the Declaration of Independence that day. Most of the representatives signed the document on August 2, 1776. Idea: Children could read Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols by James Cross GIblin and Ursula Arndt. Children could plan and carry out a Fourth of July parade.
Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty was given to the United States by France in 1884. The statue was presented to Levi P. Morton, the US ambassador to France, in Paris. The statue was then taken apart and shipped to the United States. The statue reached our shores on June 17, 1885. However, the pedestal was not yet ready. The statue was formally revealed on October 28, 1886. Children can learn more at an excellent site: Statue of Liberty.
United States and Canada in 1932 agreed on a treaty to complete the St. Lawrence Seaway. However, bills for various plans from both countries failed, and World War II intervened. The Seaway finally opened on April 25, 1959. Children can learn more at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=523nDGCLKUE.
Census was taken in the United States for the first time in 1790. The census is taken every ten years; a number of economic and government decisions are based on the census and changes in census data. Idea: Children could take a mock census in their classrooms. They could also learn more at an amazing website: https://www.census.gov/schools/.
United States levied the first income tax in 1862. Any income over $800 was taxed at 3 percent. Idea: Children could translate $800 back then into today’s dollars. They could learn more about the history of the United States income tax at: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005921.html.
Webster-Ashburton Treaty was finalized in 1842. United States Secretary of State Daniel Webster and British representative Lord Ashburton negotiated the eastern border between the United States and Canada. The treaty also allowed shared use of the Great Lakes. Older children can read a transcript of the document at: Treaty.
Treaty of Paris by Benjamin West
Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. Great Britain and the United States signed the treaty, formally ending the Revolutionary War and recognizing the United States as an independent country. The negotiators for the United States were John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple. Benjamin West’s painting Treaty of Paris (shown here) displays the five American negotiators. The painting was never completed because the British refused to be included. At least one copy of the treaty is housed in the National Archives. Children can read a transcript of the treaty at: Treaty of Paris.
Not the first Uncle Sam but perhaps the most famous
“Uncle Sam” symbol was used for the first time in 1813. It appeared in a Troy, New York, newspaper. Sam Wilson, a meat packer from New York, was supplying beef to the troops during the War of 1812. He marked the beef barrels with the letters US, meaning the meat was for US soldiers. However, the soldiers began interpreting the letters US as Uncle Sam.
Raggedy Ann Doll Patent
Raggedy Ann dolls were patented by John Gruelle in 1915. He received patent D47,789. He wrote at least 50 Raggedy Ann and Andy books to accompany the dolls.
Patriot Day and National Day of Prayer and Remembrance is today. The United States was attacked by Al Qaeda terrorists on this day in 2001. The terrorists commandeered four passenger planes. They crashed two planes into the World Trade Center in New York City and one plane into the Pentagon. The fourth airplane, destined for Washington, DC, crashed into western Pennsylvania. It appears the passengers tried to regain control of the aircraft. More than 3,000 people died in the attacks. The country responded by attacking possible Al Qaeda cells and other terrorist groups. Security within the country became more stringent. An excellent source of information for children is Dennis Brindell Fradin’s September 11, 2001, published by Marshall Cavendish.