July 1 — July 31, 2026
History Matters
Showing our children that their past
is prelude to their future
The 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1826, the United States celebrated its first half-century of existence, while John Quincy Adams commemorated the simultaneous deaths of his father, President John Adams and president Thomas Jefferson.
As the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson had been invited to the festivities in Washington, DC, but by June of that year, he was too ill to attend; he composed a letter from Monticello, which praised the significance of the document—and its importance to mankind—forevermore:
May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government…. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.
For more information, the Grateful Book Prize recommends Pauline Maier’s American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence (1997).
The Bicentennial of American Independence
On July 4, 1976, the United States celebrated its 200th anniversary with nationwide festivities—after a period of national reflection associated with the Vietnam War, Watergate, and a variety of economic difficulties in the 1970s.
Planning had begun years earlier under the umbrella of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. Communities of all sizes participated: cities hosted parades, historical reenactments, and fireworks displays. Philadelphia, site of the original signing, held massive events including a ceremonial ringing of the Liberty Bell. Operation Sail brought tall ships from around the world into New York Harbor, creating one of the most memorable spectacles of the era. The Smithsonian Institution opened major exhibitions, and “Bicentennial Minutes” aired on CBS, delivering daily historical vignettes to millions of television viewers.
The hoopla emphasized grassroots involvement. Cities and towns painted fire hydrants red, white, and blue; planted “Bicentennial trees,” and restored historic buildings. States issued commemorative coins, medals, and license plates. Culturally, it inspired everything from the renovation of Ellis Island to new public art and performances. Even NASA named its first space shuttle, Enterprise, in honor of the spirit of 1776.
The event advanced—and renewed—national pride. Attendance at national parks and historic sites ramped up. For many, it symbolized resilience a young nation reminding itself of its founding ideals amid contemporary turmoil.
For more information, the Grateful American Book Prize recommends Lawrence R. Samuel’s The American Bicentennial: A Cultural History (2025).
Michael F. Bishop, a writer and historian, is the former executive director of the International Churchill Society and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
History Matters is a feature courtesy of the Grateful American Book Prize, an annual award for high quality, 7th to 9th grade-level books dealing with important events and personalities in American history.
