History of Fireworks in the United States

 

Blogger: Amber Schamel

 Happy early Independence Day, everyone! To honor the celebration, I thought we would take a historical dive into one of the most iconic elements of this holiday: fireworks.

Fun fact: The official name for "fireworks" is actually "pyrotechnics."

An illustration of a fireworks display from the 1628-1643
edition of the Ming dynasty book Jin Ping Mei.
Public Domain

The first known fireworks originated in China. Most historians believe during the Song dynasty, around 950 AD. The first versions of this incredible invention placed an early form of gunpowder inside a hollow bamboo rod.  Pyrotechnicians in China were respected for their work, and the development of such low-level explosives became an independent profession included in many displays and celebrations. 

Fireworks were introduced to the Europeans by Marco Polo in the thirteenth century, so by the time the pilgrims came to the United States, they brought with them a love of fireworks. They were used in numerous celebrations before Independence Day. So what made them so iconic with July 4th?

 

An etching of the Royal Fireworks display -1749.
Public Domain

Fun fact: Americans spend around $1 Billion dollars on fireworks each July 4th.    

Well, fireworks seemed to be in the plan from the very beginning. John Adams, when writing to his wife about the adoption of the Declaration said this:

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more." (Emphasis mine.)

 Apparently when John Adams envisioned Independence Day anniversaries, he saw fireworks in his mind's eye. Not surprising then, is that the very first July 4 celebration included a large display of fireworks, along with salutes from cannons. The cannons were phased out, however the fireworks stuck. By 1898 a reporter noted that “the American Fourth of July is the greatest event the maker of firecrackers knows.” 

Fun Fact: Pyrotechnicians did not develop colored fireworks until the 1830's.

The development of fireworks is not only a profession and art, but also a science. If you're curious about how fireworks get their colors, this invention was made by Italian pyrotechnicians in 1930. Here's a Youtube Video explaining the science behind firework colors.

Fireworks behind the Washington Monument
Public Domain

 Not-So-Fun-Fact: Did you know that Cherry Bombs were first used as weapons during the American Civil War? They were banned in 1966, however Keith Moon weaponized them again  by using illegal cherry bombs to blow up toilets in hotels.

Fireworks are amazing fun, and a wonderful way to celebrate Independence Day! But please also remember to be very careful. In 2019, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 10,000 injuries from July 4th fireworks. 36% of those were children under the age of 15. So PLEASE, make sure you and your children are safe while celebrating this year. 

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Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".  

She lives in Colorado Springs near her favorite mountain, in a small “castle” with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a new mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Remember the 56: July 4 and the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

A footnote from history offered by Stephanie Grace Whitson, standing in for Debbie Lynne Costello.

Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence:

• 9 died of wounds or hardships during the Revolutionary War
• 5 were captured and imprisoned (and experienced brutal treatment)
• Several lost wives, sons, or entire families
• 1 lost his 13 children
• 2 wives experienced brutal treatment
• ALL were at one time or another the object of manhunts and driven from their homes
• The homes of 12 were burned down
• 17 lost everything they owned

They had pledged lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor ... and many had to step up and deliver their lives and fortunes. But their honor ... keeping their word, they paid the price. We reap the harvest.

The reading of names is often part of memorial services. Seems to me we might want to read the names of these men as part of our July 4 celebrations. Saying them aloud could be a meaningful way to continue the legacy. 

DELAWARE: George Read, Ceasar Rodney, Thomas McKean

PENNSYLVANIA: George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, John Morton, Benjamin Rush, George Ross, James Smith, James Wilson, George Taylor.

RHODE ISLAND: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton.

NORTH CAROLINA: William Hooper, John Penn, Joseph Hewes

GEORGIA: Button Gwinnet, Lyman Hall, George Walton

MARYLAND: Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, Thomas Stone, William Paca

VIRGINIA: Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe, Thomas Nelson, Jr.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, Thomas Lynch, Jr., Thomas Heyward, Jr.

NEW YORK: Lewis Morris, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, William Floyd

NEW JERSEY: Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon

CONNECTICUT: Samuel Huntington, Roger Sherman, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

MASSACHUSETTS: John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

And here's an idea for those of us who love history: Take a name ... and learn about that person. Learn about his wife, too ... for surely she bore part of the burden invited by her husband's signature on that document. 

Have you studied the lives of any of the signers of the Declaration of Independence? Did you have to memorize part of it in school? (I did.) 

God Bless America. Land that I love.

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Stephanie Grace Whitson celebrated her 20th anniversary as a published novelist in 2014. Her most recent book, Daughter of the Regiment, tells the story of two women caught up in the events of the Civil War--from opposite sides of the conflict. Learn more at www.stephaniewhitson.com.

The Making of a Declaration

Happy Independence Day!

Most of you are probably thinking, "Hey, wait a minute, Independence Day is still two days away."

Ah, but the answer isn't that simple. Did you know there are folks who believe Independence Day should be celebrated today--on July 2nd--rather than on July 4th? To understand this, we need to take a closer look at the timeline of the Declaration of Independence.

June 7, 1776 - Richard Henry Lee introduces a motion to the Continental Congress "Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
This motion was followed by heated debates, and the voting on the motion was postponed. However, Congress did appoint a committee to draft a declaration.  This committee consisted of five men, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston.

July 2, 1776 - The delegates of Congress cast their votes, and the resolution of independence is adopted. The Colonies will indeed declare their independence from Britain. After the vote, John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife that he believed this day would go down in history and be celebrated for generations to come.

July 4, 1776 - Congress adopts the final version of Jefferson's Declaration. John Hancock, as the President of the assembly immediately signed the document, as well as his secretary Charles Thompson, then it was sent to the printers. The rest of the delegates did not sign until a month later.

August 2, 1776 - The Declaration of Independence is officially signed by the members of congress. However, there were several signers who were not present at this ceremony and didn't sign until even later.

November of 1776 - The Declaration of Independence is finally delivered to Great Britain.

John Adams, one of the drafters of the declaration, believed that July 2nd should have been the day celebrated as the birth of our nation. After all, it was on July 2nd that Congress actually voted in favor of independence. Some reports have said that he even declined invitations to July 4th events because he felt so strongly about it.

The delegates of congress did not sign the document on July 4th.
They did not deliver the Declaration of Independence to Britain on July 4th.
The declaration was not even publicly read on July 4th.

So...Why July the Fourth?

July 4th is when the declaration was officially adopted in its final version, so that's the date that was printed on all the copies that were made and distributed throughout the nation. The American people saw this date on the printed copies, and that's the date that stuck. The first time July 4th was celebrated as the anniversary was in 1777, so it was July 4th rather than the 2nd right from the start.

Another interesting thing is that two of the drafters, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, died within hours of each other on July 4th, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the declaration.


July 4th became a federal holiday in 1870, but it took until 1941 to get it as a paid holiday.

Obviously, it's too late to change it now, but I'm curious to hear your opinion.

What do you think, should we have made Independence Day July 2nd, or July 4th?

Stop by the Stitches Thru Time blog this week and leave a comment to enter to win a copy of the Declaration of Independence Anthology by Amber Schamel, Murray Pura, Joseph Max Lewis and John Amodeo. http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/