The 4th of July, Independence Day: History, Celebrations & Traditions

Discover why July 4th matters — from the Declaration of Independence to fireworks, feasts, and the fun at America’s biggest holiday

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This post can be read in Tocsin Magazine, and all Medium members can read the full article here.

Introduction

It’s July — the sun blazes, heat waves strike relentlessly, and temperature records are falling due to climate change. One of the biggest holidays in the entire USA is just around the corner: the 4th of July, or Independence Day, a day of immense significance for every American — and it’s only two days away.

This day is so important that Hollywood has immortalized it in films like Independence Day starring Will Smith and Born on the Fourth of July with Tom Cruise.

What Is the 4th of July and Why Is It Celebrated?

The USA wasn’t always a unified nation — it began as thirteen British colonies under monarchical rule. Tired of English arbitrary control and oppression, the so-called “Founding Fathers” decided to break away from Great Britain and establish a new, independent nation.

Independence Day, popularly known as the Fourth of July, marks the celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. On that day, the thirteen American colonies officially severed political ties with the British Crown.

Though the Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776, the actual wording of the Declaration was finalized and ratified two days later; hence, July 4 became, and remains, celebrated as the birth of the nation.

Who Drafted the Declaration of Independence — and Why It Mattered

Thomas Jefferson was the principal drafter, working within the “Committee of Five” alongside John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson penned the initial draft between June 11 and June 28, 1776, after which Congress made edits and revised it several times.

The document comprises four key sections:

1. Preamble — States natural rights and explains that governments derive their power from the governed, with the power to replace governments that fail to protect these rights. It famously begins: “We hold these truths to be self‑evident…”
2. List of Grievances — Enumerates British abuses, including taxation without representation, quartering soldiers, and denial of trial by jury.
3. Formal Declaration — Declares absolute independence and outlines the colonies’ new powers (waging war, trade, and diplomacy).
4. Signatures — Final page bears the names of about 56 signers pledging their “Lives, Fortunes and sacred Honor.” John Hancock was the first signer on August 2, 1776. constitutionfacts.com

This Declaration demonstrated to the world — and to Britain — why the colonies sought independence. It grounded the nation in natural law ideology and influenced global movements for liberty and equality, including women’s rights. It remains a symbol of American values: freedom, equality, and self-governance.

How July 4 is Celebrated and Its Traditions

Celebrations on this day take place across America and are best known for their fireworks displays — a tradition dating back to 1777, inspired originally by European royal festivities

Besides fireworks, there are parades, both civic and military, including the official parade on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., washingtonpost.com

Concerts and speeches are common features of the day, along with church services and academic ceremonies.

What every true American eagerly anticipates on this day are barbecues, picnics, processions, and sporting events — especially baseball games, often accompanied by music and local customs. 123cards.com

 

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Traditional Foods & Drinks

Independence Day features iconic American foods, particularly grilled items and seasonal fare:

• Hot dogs, burgers, sausages — Essential to any BBQ.
• Pulled pork, ribs, brisket — Particularly popular in the South and Midwest.
• Salads — Potato salad, coleslaw, three‑bean, and baked beans.
• Seasonal dishes — Grilled salmon with peas and new potatoes.
• Desserts — American pies (apple, blueberry, cherry), “flag cake” (resembles the flag), ice cream, and patriotic drinks like sangria.

Fun Facts About July 4th

Three U.S. Presidents died on July 4th: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe all passed away on Independence Day. Adams and Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826 — the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence — and Monroe died exactly five years later on July 4, 1831. greenlight.com

Over $1 billion is spent annually on fireworks in the United States on July 4th. greenlight.com

Americans consume about 150 million hot dogs on that day every year. callmsi.com

On July 4, 1778, the Continental Army marked the holiday with a double ration of rum for the troops, ordered by General George Washington. livingadk.org

Conclusion

As you can see, July 4th is more than just a holiday — it’s a deeply rooted celebration of freedom, nationhood, and shared values. Through traditional parades, fireworks, BBQs, and more, Americans honor the courage of their founders and the liberties that define the country.

It’s worth acknowledging that independence did not initially mean freedom for all; Native Americans, enslaved people, and women remained excluded. Movements like Juneteenth highlight the ongoing journey to realize the Declaration’s promise for every American. time.com

https://cryptonftworlds.blogspot.com/2025/06/terror-in-boulder-egyptian-attacker.html

How to Make Money Blogging in 2025: Use AI Tools to Write Smarter, Rank Higher, and Earn More

The Ultimate Guide to Profitable Blogging with AI — Learn How to Write High-Quality Articles, Boost SEO, and Monetize…

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Terror in Boulder: Egyptian Attacker Targets Pro-Israel March with Firebombs and Improvised Flamethrower

Eight injured in Boulder as Egyptian man attacks pro-Israel march with Molotovs — FBI calls it a targeted act of ideologically driven terrorism

Source: New York Post

This post can be read in Tocsin Magazine, and all Medium members can read the full article here.

Introduction

It seems that the USA has been gripped by a wave of hatred and violence linked to the conflict between Israel and Palestine over the Gaza Strip. Anti-Semitic hate crimes are on the rise, as are protests against the war in Gaza. Furthermore, President Donald Trump and his administration’s stance toward pro-Palestinian protesters has done nothing to calm the situation — in fact, it has only added fuel to the already burning fire.

Conservative supporters of Israel, led by President Trump, have decided to label all pro-Palestinian demonstrators as anti-Semitic, and his administration has begun detaining protesters without charges. A decision was also made to cut funding to any elite American university that allows demonstrations on its grounds.

Unspeakable Hatred and Hate Crimes

In light of these events, a wave of anti-Semitic violence has erupted across the USA. Recently, a young Jewish couple was shot dead in the middle of the street in Chicago.

The latest in a string of hate-motivated attacks occurred on June 1, 2025, near the Pearl Street Mall shopping district in Boulder, Colorado, where the suspect used Molotov cocktails to attack participants of a march organized by “Run for Their Lives” — an organization that holds global runs and marches to demand the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

At the time of the attack, a peaceful pro-Israel march was underway, according to the Chief of Police, who added that the police are still investigating the motive. As of now, it has not been definitively classified as a terrorist act.

The Egyptian man who attacked pro-Israel march identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, used an improvised flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to target the march participants. During the attack, he shouted slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “End Zionists.” New York Post

Soliman is an Egyptian national who had been residing in the U.S. on a work permit, which expired in March 2025. According to reports, Soliman violated the terms of his stay and remained in the country illegally.

Here is the video of the attacker from CBS News

Boulder mall attack suspect used makeshift flamethrower, Molotov cocktails, FBI says

A man is in custody after apparently targeting a group of marchers at a mall in Boulder, Colorado. The demonstrators…

www.cbsnews.com

Details of the Attack

The attack occurred near the intersection of 13th Street and Pearl Street, where Soliman threw incendiary bottles at march participants. Eight people, aged between 52 and 88, were injured, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. One woman suffered severe burns and had to be airlifted to a hospital. Soliman was also injured during the attack and was taken to the hospital under police supervision. The Daily Beast

Here is the post on X about the attack:

 

Source: https://x.com/AdityaRajKaul/status/1929298335342416193

Authorities’ and Police Response

Thanks to a swift police response, the suspect was apprehended and arrested. The investigation is ongoing. Although the motive is not yet entirely clear, the FBI has classified the incident as a targeted terrorist attack driven by ideological motives.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated that it was a “targeted terrorist attack,” while Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that the assault is being investigated as an ideologically motivated act of terrorism. Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the attack as a hate crime and extended his condolences to the victims. Wikipedia

Immediately following the attack, the Pearl Street Mall area was evacuated. Police conducted a detailed search for additional explosive devices. To ensure maximum safety before reopening the area, sniffer dogs trained to detect explosives were brought in, along with a bomb disposal unit. The investigation is still ongoing, with police, authorities, and civilians working together to gather potential evidence and eyewitness accounts. Wikipedia

Conclusion

As we can see, opposing views on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict have led to further polarization within American society. While some protest in support of Israel and the release of hostages, others demonstrate for Palestinian liberation and an end to the conflict.

Unfortunately, hate crimes and anti-Semitic violence continue to rise, worsening the situation. According to the FBI, there has been a 63% increase in hate crimes against Jews, accounting for 68% of all religion-motivated hate crimes.

https://cryptonftworlds.blogspot.com/2025/05/two-young-lives-lost-in-washington.html

Two Young Lives Lost in Washington Shooting

In a senseless outburst of violence and hatred on Wednesday evening during the Washington shooting, two young people…

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How Putin Outmaneuvered Trump: The Failed 24-Hour Ukraine Peace Promise

An in-depth analysis of Trump’s failed vow to end the Ukraine war swiftly and how Putin leveraged the situation to his advantage

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This post can be read in Tocsin Magazine, and all Medium members can read the full article here.

Introduction

“I’ll end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours!”

Do you recall this promise made by Trump regarding the war in Ukraine before he became president? It’s been well over 24 hours, and the war in Ukraine continues with no end in sight. People are dying on both sides — Russian and Ukrainian.

The wealthy are getting richer, while the poor and ordinary people are dying for the ideals of politicians who instigated this war.

What went wrong? Why didn’t President Trump manage to keep his promise?

In my opinion, it seems that Trump overestimated himself and his negotiating abilities while underestimating Putin, his power, desire for glory, and ambition to conquer Ukraine. Trump believed that his friendship with Putin and the superpower backing of the U.S. presidency would be sufficient to pressure both sides into negotiations. However, as things stand now, it appears he was gravely mistaken. Business Standard

First and foremost, he underestimated the Russian president and his ambitions, thinking that Putin was truly his friend and would accept well-intentioned suggestions. He also underestimated the power of Mother Russia and the Russian people, both militarily and economically. Russia has a history of great wars and significant victories, and with an ambitious, intelligent, and ruthless leader like Putin at the helm, its ambitions seem boundless.

Moreover, he severely underestimated the small nation of Ukraine, its people, and President Zelensky. Any nation fighting on its own soil, defending its home, fights like a lion — ruthlessly, passionately, and to the end. An invader always remains just that — an invader fighting in a foreign land for someone else’s ideals, not their own.

Many believed that once Russia attacked, it would consume Ukraine for breakfast and the war would be over in a few days. But they failed to consider a nation defending its home, willing to fight to the last drop of blood.

Misconceptions About Putin, Russia, and Ukraine

This lack of understanding of the situation on the ground, local politicians, customs, and the people fighting may have been a crucial factor leading President Trump to the delusion that he could end the war with a single phone call and a few signatures. It seems that Putin himself allowed and encouraged this delusion, pursuing his own interests and playing his own game.

He allowed Trump to view Russia as a potential ally and friend while harboring entirely different intentions. He succeeded in sowing discord between Europe and the USA, long-standing allies, and continued to achieve military objectives in Ukraine under the guise of seeking peace, while his “Special Military Operation” was never intended to cease.

He has been nibbling away at Ukrainian territory, piece by piece, moving closer to his goal each day.

But Europe itself, being sluggish, slow, and burdened with bureaucracy, hasn’t contributed much to resolving the Ukrainian issue. On the contrary, it has further complicated matters by imposing sanctions on Russia and sending military aid to Ukraine.

As things stand now, the allies are in strained relations, arguing over the war in Ukraine, while Putin muddles the waters and exploits the situation for further conquests, with no intention of stopping.

If something radical doesn’t change in the relationships between the USA, Europe, and Ukraine, Russians might soon be vacationing on the Mediterranean Sea without passports in their own country.

 

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Statements to the Media and on Social Media

According to recent news reports, even President Trump seems to be waking up from his dream and realizing who Putin truly is — a ruthless and ambitious dictator who has no friends, only allies until he achieves his goal.

After Russia launched 355 drones towards Ukraine and nine cruise missiles at Kyiv’s air forces over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed deep dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Sun

Although Trump’s statements are inconsistent — sometimes attacking Putin, then defending him — there’s an increasing sense of nervousness, emotion, and impatience in his social media posts, such as this one on Truth Social:

“Putin has completely lost it. I’ve always said he wants all of Ukraine, not just a part, and maybe that’s proving to be true, but if he does that, it will lead to Russia’s downfall!”

Or the one he gave to reporters at the Morristown, New Jersey airport while preparing to return to Washington, where he expressed dissatisfaction with Russia’s bombing of Ukraine over the weekend, saying:

“I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about it.”

Trump didn’t hold back on Zelensky either, having harsh words for him, saying that:

“He’s not doing his country any favors by speaking the way he does. Everything he says causes problems, I don’t like it, and he’d better stop.”

But as mentioned earlier, Trump isn’t consistent with himself, sometimes attacking Putin and sometimes defending him. However, judging by recent media reports, it seems he’s deeply offended and, if the latest peace efforts fail, he’s even ready to impose sanctions on Russia.

Furthermore, it appears he’s even considering lifting all restrictions on Ukraine, which would be a complete reversal of his policy.

In one of his latest statements on Truth Social, he wrote:

“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that many really bad things would have already happened to Russia if it weren’t for me. He’s playing with fire!”

To which the Kremlin quickly responded, with spokesman Dmitry Medvedev saying that the only truly bad thing to worry about is World War III.

“I hope Trump understands this!” he added.

Even French President Emmanuel Macron noted that Trump has finally realized that Putin wasn’t seeking peace.

“President Trump understands that President Putin lied when he said over the phone that he was ready for peace or told his envoys that he was ready for peace,” Macron said.

Conclusion

Judging by the developments in Ukraine and globally, it seems that President Trump’s campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours has remained just a wishful thought and an unfulfilled dream, as there’s no end to the war in sight.

Due to his inability to keep this promise, Trump is now furious, losing control over the situation, and making policy shifts regarding Putin and Russia.

Moreover, the situation has become even more complicated, as it appears Trump has realized who Putin truly is.

Unfortunately, lives are being lost on the battlefield daily, and people are dying senselessly, while the situation is going from bad to worse. Instead of ending the war, relations between the countries involved are only becoming more strained.

If something radical doesn’t change, there’s a risk of the conflict expanding and potentially leading to a third world war, which no one needs and certainly won’t bring anything good.

https://cryptonftworlds.blogspot.com/2025/06/trump-vs-musk-billionaire-feud-shakes.html

Trump vs. Musk: Billionaire Feud Shakes Politics & Markets

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