| Taxation without representation, that's what started | | | | fueling the flames of discontent. |
| the Revolutionary War that caused the thirteen | | | | These events lead up to the American Revolutionary |
| colonies to revolt against England. The colonies felt | | | | war. On July 2nd 1776 the Second Continental |
| that being taxed without representation in the English | | | | Congress decided to approve a resolution of |
| Parliament was unfair. The British felt the tax was | | | | independence. It was this day that the forefathers of |
| justified because of the vast amount of money the | | | | our country thought it would be a monumental day |
| British government spent for the French and Indian | | | | that would be celebrated by all the Americans as the |
| War. When the war ended in 1763, the King of | | | | beginning of their independence. But it was July 4th |
| England, King George III, decided to tax the colonies | | | | that the Declaration of Independence was passed |
| to recoup those costs. | | | | and signed by the Continental Congress and it is this |
| The British empire enacted a series of laws to | | | | day we celebrate as our Independence Day. |
| impose certain taxes but the colonies resisted paying | | | | All over this great land of ours we celebrate the 4th |
| the taxes imposed which led up to the Boston | | | | of July with picnics, parades, fairs, carnivals etc.... Each |
| Massacre in 1770. The infuriated colonists refused to | | | | state, each city the type of celebrations or functions |
| pay the taxes so the British government rescinded | | | | held may be different but the purpose is clear, we |
| the taxes but decided to use another ploy to tax the | | | | celebrate our heritage, the birth of our freedom, and |
| colonies. The English Parliament through secret | | | | we honor those who sacrificed their lives in order for |
| agreements with the East India Company would levy | | | | us to be free. It doesn't matter if you are a first |
| a duty tax on the imported tea. The East India | | | | generation American or a descendant of one of the |
| Company was given a monopoly on all tea that was | | | | original colonists, we are all Americans. This |
| exported to the colonies. The colonists were not | | | | celebration of Independence Day is for all of us. |
| fooled by this ploy and these events lead up to the | | | | Becoming an American citizen is to become part of |
| Boston Tea Party in December of 1773. The British | | | | its history and culture. |
| response was to close down the Boston harbor | | | | |