Happy Birthday America. July 4th, 2009 will mark America's 233 birthday.
She is still looking good for a woman of that age.
WHERE IT BEGAN: By the middle of the 1700's, the 13 colonies that made up part of England's empire in the New World were finding it difficult to be ruled by a king 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.They were tired of the taxes imposed upon them. But independence was a gradual and painful process. The colonists could not forget that they were British citizens and that they owed allegiance to King George III.
A "tea party" and a "Massacre" were two events that hurried destiny.Along with general unrest these events united the colonists.
Virginia took the first step towards independence by voting to set up a committee to represent the colonies. The First Continental Congress met in September of 1774. They drew up a list of grievances against the crown which became the first draft of a document that would formally separate the colonies from England.George Washington took command of the Continental Army and began fighting the British in Massachusetts.For the next eight years, colonists fought fervently in the Revolutionary War.
In the meantime, a war of words was being waged in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress presented and debated a second draft of the list of grievances, and John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first to sign. The document, called the Declaration of Independence, was treasonous against the crown and the fifty-six men who signed it were in danger of being executed.
Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 because that is the day when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.
July 4th Independence Day Facts
122.6 million Americans will have a cookout or picnic on July 4th
81.48 million Americans will watch fireworks or attend a community celebration
20.9 million people will go to a parade
18.98 million Americans will travel or go on vacation over the long weekend
Fourth of July was first celebrated on July 8, 1776 after the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
For many, the 4th of July is the most anticipated celebration of the summer.
Fourth of July was declared a legal holiday in 1941.
111.8 million consumers own an American flag
Sources include US Census Bureau, US Embassy
Independence Day Art Activity For 4th of July
Parent Tips Independence Day July 4th For Kids and Family You and your child can create red, white, and blue masterpiece as part of your family celebration preparation.
Step One:Know where you stand. Do you know exactly what you owe and how long it will take you to pay it off? If you have been paying the minimums on your credit cards in 2006, you’ve lost financial ground. Gather each of this month’s statements. Make an itemized list that includes each account balance and interest rates. Having your total financial obligations at your finger tips can help you make better financial decisions.
Technology and Baby Boomer aging might be the reason demand for nurses, truck drivers and pharmacists is expected to exceed demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that certain jobs will experience a shortage of qualified workers. The job categories include: truck drivers and pharmacists as well as registered nurses, librarians, and machinists.
When Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989, his primary purpose was to create a collaborative environment in which scientists with common interests could share research findings. However, during the 1990s the web took a dramatic, business-driven turn, and the cooperative dream of its creator was lost in the dot-com stampede. But with the advent of a more user-involved internet (dubbed “Web 2.0”), we are experiencing a rebirth of Berners-Lee’s vision. The heart of Web 2.0 is social networking – programs that enable user-friendly, real-time communication among browsers.
Parent Tips Independence Day July 4th For Kids and Family 
Americans recently declared their top priorities are to 
When Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989, his primary purpose was to create a collaborative environment in which scientists with common interests could share research findings. However, during the 1990s the web took a dramatic, business-driven turn, and the cooperative dream of its creator was lost in the dot-com stampede. But with the advent of a more user-involved internet (dubbed “Web 2.0”), we are experiencing a rebirth of Berners-Lee’s vision. The heart of Web 2.0 is social networking – programs that enable user-friendly, real-time communication among browsers.
