Independence from tyranny was a rare concept prior to the 18th century. Thirteen of England’s most unruly colonies changed that by coming together and ratify a document so monumental that it sent ripples throughout the world. 

Two hundred and forty-three years ago, the colonies declared independence from Great Britain and created the country that we know today as the United States of America. On the world stage, many countries watched in shock as America, with great help from France, defeated the world’s strongest military at the time.

But why should we celebrate this day anymore? After all, the colonies were incredibly dysfunctional at the time. After the Revolution, the colonies, now states, were bound together loosely under the Articles of Confederation, not the Constitution we all love today. 

States had different currencies, placed tariffs on each other, and often refused to send taxes to the federal government. This all to say that the early United States was such a weak country that it couldn’t even afford to pay the soldiers from the Continental Army who had helped win their independence.

Despite the dysfunctional state of affairs in the ye olde U.S. of A., the document ratified on July 4, 1776 etched into history a set of ideals that at the time were revolutionary and today continue to be a cornerstone of the American system of government. The first two sentences of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence state, as plain as day, why the founders felt emboldened to form a new government. They believed that the English government was not doing what was required to protect their rights. Those rights that they pointed to were, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These rights themselves, while important, are not the most significant part of the Declaration of Independence or the form of government that was soon to be created. Rather, the revolutionary part is that humans “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” Breaking this down, it means that governments do not give rights to their citizens because rights predate government. Rights are something that exist only because our Creator gave them to us.

As this document set the foundation for a government that could protect the rights of all its citizens, it had a similar effect on European colonies across the world. While not immediate, many other colonies would declare independence with a document that shared many similarities with the United States’ and establish a government with a constitution based on America’s as well. 

From the very first colonies, the United States has been a beacon of hope for billions of people across the world; it certainly was for the first colonists who made it here. Since then, the United States has offered a place for every person and culture to call their own.

The transition from thirteen colonies banding together against tyrannical England, to the country we see today has been a treacherous one. We’ve seen the country nearly destroyed internally by civil war, tested on the international stage through two world wars, advance minority rights in the 1960s, and defeat the influence of communism. 

To say that where we came from was perfect would be far from the truth. Instead, it would do us more justice to recognize the world for what it was at the time, while also recognizing the power the United States’ Declaration of Independence had on North America and the rest of the world.

All of this easily answers the question of why we celebrate the Fourth of July each year. But perhaps, what is more important than why we celebrate is how we celebrate. Many other countries have their equivalent of our Independence Day, whether it is an actual celebration of independence or just a national day, but they celebrate it in a very specific way.

If you look at France, Russia, Mexico, or Canada, they all celebrate their day with massive displays of military power. In each of these instances, their parades are filled with the latest tanks, soldiers in sharp uniforms, and low flying jets (maybe even a few nuclear missiles if you’re Russia). Contrast this with what has historically been seen in Fourth of July parades across America and in Washington. These parades are not displays of military equipment, but members of the community. 

Throughout the parades you see Boy Scouts riding in truck beds, local fire engines leading the charge, high school cheerleaders with red, white, and blue pom poms, historical reenactors, and young children waving miniature American flags. The subtle differences between the American system and others is best seen in how we celebrate our independence.

So, on this day, go pursue your happiness but be cognizant of the system that was created to best protect liberty. Keep in mind that this system of government is not the natural state of human affairs. Therefore, we must work to preserve this system of government for even more generations of Americans to enjoy.