http://www.independencedayfun.com/ Happy Fourth of July! It's Independence Day Fun, with coloring pages. printable flags, crafts, recipes and more. ~~ Barbara J. Feldman en Copyright 2007 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:48:45 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The complete list of the signers of the Declaration of Independence include: John Hancock (president of the Continental Congress), Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry, Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery, Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott, William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris, Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross, Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean, Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton, William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton. There were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Among some of the more well known facts about the people who signed the Declaration of Independence are that John Hancock’s signature was the largest, or that several future Presidents (John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to be exact) signed the Declaration. Samuel and John Adams were both signers of the document. These cousins were close friends and comrades in politics. But aside from the trivia it is important to remember the significance of the document. The Declaration of Independence was just that, a declaration to the British that the American colonies were to be independent of their rule. The Declaration of Independence was the catalyst for the changes in government and the establishment of the freedoms we have today. America was to become the envy of all other nations because of our mission for the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence was much more than an opportunity for rebellious and political men to make a statement or to boost their own egos. It was a document that carried with it severe consequences as well as priceless gifts for future generations. In signing their names to the Declaration of Independence, the signers were effectively signing away their protection and anonymity from British forces. John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, probably had the most cause for fear as he was the leader of the revolution against the British. True, he was described as a flamboyant character who liked attention. But his large signature on the Declaration of Independence was not to boast his own ego. It was a powerful response to a decree that had been delivered from England in early 1776 offering a large reward for his capture and the capture of several leading figures. On signing the Declaration in his famously clear and obvious way he commented, "The British ministry can read that name without spectacles; let them double their reward." http://www.independencedayfun.com/who_signed_the_declaration_of_independence-17682.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/who_signed_the_declaration_of_independence-17682.php History British Declaration_of_Independence fight freedom government leader liberty president risk signers Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:48:45 -0800 For many people, the Boston Tea Party was a waste of a lot of good tea. For others it was one of the most significant moments in American history. So why was a masked raid on tea-carrying boats such a big deal? The Boston Tea Party has a history that you must first understand if you are to appreciate the significance of this event to our country. During the late 1760’s and early 1770’s the government of Great Britain wanted to make sure that the thirteen colonies in American remained submissive and loyal to its rule. In order to achieve this type of power, the British Parliament instigated a series of taxes that the inhabitants of the colonies were required to pay. Obviously, colonists were not anxious to pad the pockets and pay off the debts of the British, and so they opposed these taxes. Opposition grew, and the threat of losing control of the colonies was a real concern for the British. This is where tea comes into play. The colonists loved tea. Tea was a symbol of status and comfort. Yet it was also something that most people could afford and used on a regular basis. Tea from British suppliers was expensive. Most of the colonists’ bought smuggled tea in order to avoid the British taxes on this product. The British did not like to be undermined and passed the Tea Act. The Tea Act gave the East India Company a monopoly on the sale of tea, which made it cost about half of what the colonists were spending for their contraband tea. The British thought that this would be a good way of forcing the colonists to pay the tea tax and still pay less money overall for the tea. Monetarily, this British Parliament plan made sense. Surely the colonists would rather spend less for their tea and buy it from British sources. But this was an issue that went much deeper than the cost of tea. The colonists could see what the British Parliament was trying to do and it just made them angrier. The Tea Act was seen by many as a challenge of loyalties. What was more important, the cost of a little tea or the principle of opposing unfair British rule? There were advocates for both sides, but it was the opponents of the British that took part in the famous tea party. The colonists who advocated independence from the British and their unfair taxes wanted to send a message to Parliament that they could not ignore. So just after three boats carrying shipments of tea docked on Boston’s harbor, about 200 men in Indian costume boarded the ships and dumped all of the tea overboard into the harbor. http://www.independencedayfun.com/why_was_the_boston_tea_party_significant-17679.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/why_was_the_boston_tea_party_significant-17679.php History America Boston_Tea_Party British colonists control government independence loyalty Parliament tax unfair Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:40:13 -0800 Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was arguably the most important figure that contributed to the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was the chosen writer of the Declaration of Independence and aside from a few changes made, it is his original writing that we read today. Jefferson was elected president in 1801. He continued producing great feats of writing including the 12 amendments and delivering the State of the Union address in writing. Thomas Jefferson retired from the office of President in 1808. He then went on to establish the University of Virginia alongside his good friend James Madison. Shortly before his death in 1826, Jefferson told Madison that he wished to be remembered only for his work as the Author of the Declaration of Independence, and as the founder of the University of Virginia. Benjamin Franklin Born in Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin assisted Thomas Jefferson by editing the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin was independently wealthy from his work as a businessman, writer, publisher, and scientist and was a popular and prominent member of society because of his work as a diplomat, legislator, and social activist. Benjamin Franklin was also one of the earliest and strongest advocates for the abolition of slavery as he believed that all people were entitled to the same rights that he supported in the Declaration. John Hancock John Hancock was the President of the Continental Congress and is known for penning the largest and most obvious signature on the Declaration. Although John Hancock did not shy away from attention, his large signature was less to boost his own ego and more to show that he was not afraid of the British’s threats to capture him for his “treason” against them. Samuel Adams Samuel Adams signed the Declaration of Independence as an already established figure of importance. Adams nominated Washington to be commander-in-chief of the colonial armies and was later elected Vice President of the United States under George Washington in 1789. Samuel Adams then served as President in 1796 and ended his term in 1801. ]]> http://www.independencedayfun.com/important_contributors_to_the_declaration_of_independence-17681.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/important_contributors_to_the_declaration_of_independence-17681.php History Benjamin_Franklin Declaration_of_Independence document figures important John_Hancock popular President Samuel_Adams sign Thomas_Jefferson Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:45:58 -0800 The Boston Tea Party is an important part of America’s history. The establishment of independence from Britain did not happen overnight. A series of events led to the American Revolution. A turning point in history occurred that December morning in 1773 when the colonists decided it was time to stand up against the injustices that the mother country of Great Britain had burdened them with. They began to fight back. The Boston Tea Party was by no means an act of lost tempers and hotheads. While there was a lot of anger and resentment, history shows that the colonists had held many organized meetings to discuss the events that were unfolding in their cities. They had definite leaders, one of which was John Hancock. Hancock and the other colonists wanted to do something about the new taxes that Parliament was burdening them with. The Boston Tea Party was not the first act of harmless rebellion. John Hancock was also seized for smuggling tea to the colonists so that they would not have to pay Parliament’s taxes. The Boston Tea Party was an important display of the fact that colonists were well aware of Parliament’s attempts to use the colonists' tax money to repay British war debts and that the colonists would not stand for this unfair treatment. During the raid of the three ships where all the tea was thrown into the harbor, the masked men doing the deed were careful not to damage anything except for the tea. They were sending a message, not committing a thoughtless act of destruction or vandalism. They would not pay taxes on their tea, plain and simple. The Boston Tea Party is also important because of both the British and American responses to the actions that followed the tea party. The British were furious with the actions of the colonists and needed to impose a “punishment” for their rebellion. This came in the form of the Intolerable Acts. The colonists saw these acts for exactly what they were: an attempt by Parliament to gain complete control over the colonists. http://www.independencedayfun.com/the_importance_of_the_boston_tea_party-17678.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/the_importance_of_the_boston_tea_party-17678.php History America Boston_Tea_Party British colonists fight injustice leader motivation Parliament rebellion taxes Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:38:35 -0800 The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. The Declaration of Independence was written because the representatives of the states in America wanted to sever their ties from Great Britain. The colonies wanted to have their own government and their own independent Union. These representatives formed the Second Continental Congress and they appointed Thomas Jefferson to be the one who took all of their plans and wrote what they would call the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration explains why the states no longer wanted to live under British rule. Thomas Jefferson was a very talented writer and took just 3 weeks to write the Declaration of Independence. He rented a few rooms and spent all of his time contemplating the exact wording for the document that he knew would change history. Jefferson’s words were poetic and strong and after only a few changes to the document, the Declaration of Independence was signed on the fourth of July in 1776. It took a week to sign because not all of the members of the Continental Congress could be there for the main signing. A total of 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. These men were educated and influential, and many of them had successful careers and lived comfortably on their earnings. The signers consisted of doctors, lawyers, writers, inventors, and many more. Two future Presidents signed the Declaration of Independence, and many of the other signers would continue to play influential roles in American politics. John Hancock was the leader of the Continental Congress and is known for his signature which is the largest one on the Declaration. John Hancock and the other signers of the Declaration of Independence took a great risk when they put their names on that document. Because they were still under British rule, writing the Declaration was considered treason, and many of the signers were severely punished for their participation in the writing of the Declaration. Some of the signers were killed, many were robbed of all their possessions, and even the families of the signers were persecuted for generations after the Declaration of Independence was issued. http://www.independencedayfun.com/what_every_child_should_know_about_the_declaration_of_independence-17680.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/what_every_child_should_know_about_the_declaration_of_independence-17680.php History America Continental Congress Declaration_of_Independence free Hancock Jefferson liberty signers Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:43:43 -0800 You have heard of the Revolutionary War and of the Declaration of Independence and probably see these two events as instrumental in the establishment of the United States of America. On the Fourth of July you may celebrate America’s independence with barbeques, family and fireworks. You may even think of the forefathers like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or other instrumental people in our nation’s history. But did you ever stop to think about the Boston Tea Party and its effect on our country and the lives that we live today? If you don’t, you are not in the minority. Few people know just how much the Boston Tea Party has affected our lives today. A short reminder of the history of the Boston Tea Party is as follows: In the late 1760’s and early 1770’s the British were trying to recover the costs that they had spent in war. The British were also trying to regain control of the colonies which they had neglected during the time when their focus was on fighting the war. The British Parliament decided to impose a number of taxes on the colonists in order to repay war debts and to remind the colonists that the British were who they were to remain loyal to. The colonists in America had gained great independence while the British were off fighting their war. Colonists were relatively self sufficient especially when it came to establishing leaders, organizing meetings, etc. The American colonists believed that they did not need the British and were angry about having to pay taxes to them. The colonists were resourceful and tried to find ways around paying taxes. Specifically, they smuggled tea from the Dutch in order to avoid paying the British taxes on it. The British were upset that the colonists were not buying their tea and imposed a Tea Tax. In short, the Tea Tax gave the East India Company a monopoly on the sale of tea and put the colonists in a corner. Many colonists, and especially leaders such as John Hancock, were furious about the British’s persistence to carry through with their unjust taxation. After a sequence of meetings where more and more men were rallied to the cause of making a stand against the British, on the night of December 16, 1773 about 200 masked men decided that they would raid and destroy the tea shipment on three East India Company boats. Their action of throwing the tea overboard into the Boston harbor was meant to show the British and the Parliament that they could no longer use the colonies to their advantage through unjust means. http://www.independencedayfun.com/how_the_boston_tea_party_affects_us_today-17677.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/how_the_boston_tea_party_affects_us_today-17677.php History affect America Boston_Tea _Party British colonists effect independence lives Parliament revolution today Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:35:52 -0800 Fabulous Foods Patriotic Cake]]> http://www.independencedayfun.com/special_desserts_for_your_4th_of_july_holiday-17311.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/special_desserts_for_your_4th_of_july_holiday-17311.php Recipes holiday_desserts july_4th some special Sat, 28 Jul 2007 18:59:42 -0800 Fourth of July ice cream cake This is a tasty and cool treat to keep everyone happy. Use a little decoration of flags or stars to create a patriotic look. Here is what to do. You will need: 1 10 inch prepared angel food cake 2 quarts of strawberry ice cream 1 quart of vanilla ice cream 2 tablespoons of confectioner sugar 2 ½ cups whipping cream Start by cutting the cake horizontally, in which you will create 4 equal layers. Then put this cake on a tin foil covered tray. Now spread part of the strawberry ice cream, and put into freezer. Now you will do the same with another piece of cake, and the vanilla ice cream. Then place this on top of the cake in the freezer. Then do the same with another layer of the cake, and the strawberry ice cream. Now put this one on the other ones in the freezer. Repeat this until all the cake is used. The top and bottom layer will be cake. Now you will need to beat the cream in a mixer with the sugar until peaks appear. Use this mixture to frost the top and sides of the cake. Freeze this until it is time to serve. Do not forget to decorate with stars or flags. These are 3 awesome July 4th dessert recipes that will be sure to please your family and friends this 4th of July. Have a great party! http://www.independencedayfun.com/awesome_fourth_of_july_ice_cream_cake-17301.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/awesome_fourth_of_july_ice_cream_cake-17301.php Recipes awesome desserts family friends holiday july_4th share Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:32:03 -0800 Four layer dessert: This is a nice treat that will be amazing to your friends and family. In fact you might want to print a few copies of this recipe. You will need: 1 cup of flour 3 cups of fat free milk ¼ cup melted margarine 1 8 oz piece of cream cheese ½ cup powdered sugar ½ cup finely chopped sliver almonds 2 cups of thawed whip cream 2 packages of your favorite flavor instant pudding Start out by mixing the almonds, flour and margarine in a large bowl. This mixture will be a little crumbly. Press this mixture into a 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Then cook this in the oven on 350 degrees for roughly 15 minutes. Now you will need to blend the powdered sugar and cream cheese in a bowl until blended. Then slowly stir in 1 cup of the whip cream. Then create the pudding and milk mixture in a bowl, and then beat for two minutes. Now spoon the pudding over the cream cheese mixture. Then spread the remaining whip cream over the top and chill for three hours. http://www.independencedayfun.com/awesome_four_layer_dessert-17300.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/awesome_four_layer_dessert-17300.php Recipes awesome desserts family friends holiday july_4th share Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:29:55 -0800 Cherry Pie! Take that same cherry pie. Looks relatively plain sitting in that metal tin. How about adding some color? This is a great time to bring out the whipped cream, red, white and blue sprinkles and some festive colored plates. This way, the colors are bouncing around each other creating an explosion of patriotic enthusiasm. Festive Cakes! Any cake, white or chocolate, is a great treat. However, plain old frostings just won’t do the trick. It is going to take more than that to bring your rocking festivities to life. How about adding some color and design? Simply by using colored frosting, whipped cream, or some fruit you can make any cake a display of patriotism. Decorate with flag shapes or star shapes; it is that simple. Take a little time to create a shiny tray with tin foil, and add some colored plastic wrap over the top for a red or blue shine, and you have an amazing way to present any cake. JELL-O! Jell-o is always easy to use to present color and flair. This is because jell-o can come in so many different shapes and sizes. How about red and blue jell-o stars? This is a fun and cool way to create festive patriotism for any party. Jell-o can also be used in cakes and other desserts to add flavor, texture and color. So it is all up to your imagination. ]]> http://www.independencedayfun.com/4th_of_july_desserts_that_rock-17309.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/4th_of_july_desserts_that_rock-17309.php Recipes desserts holiday how_to july_4th present rocks special Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:10:07 -0800 Idea #1 Uncle Sam Ice Cream Cones How about a cute, cool, and amazing looking presidential ice cream cone. If you have young ones at the activities, this will be a sure hit. Here is how it works. You use an ice cream cone, ice cream, frosting and some decorating to create miniature presidents. Here is the link that has detailed instructions. Family Fun Uncle Sam Cone Idea #2 Blue Berry and Custard Filled Star Puffs These tasty treats are great for on the go. They are shaped like stars, and they taste out of this world. They are relatively simple to make. The main thing is that you will want to keep them in a cooler when you are out and about. Here is a link with more information and instructions. Fabulous Food Idea #3 Patriotic Quilt Cake This cake is a cool and tasty way to bring a special treat to your guests. The look is very festive. The style is soft and summery. All and all, this takes a little time, but will be a huge hit with your guests. Check out this link for full instructions. Kraft Foods Idea #4 The 4th Float So you have parades, fire works and much more. How about making your own 4th of July float that you and your guests can eat? This is a cool treat that is fun to eat. The colors are patriotic and the taste is going to get your guests singing praises. Here is the link to the complete recipe. CNN desserts Idea #5 Strawberries and Cream Cheese Filling The strawberries resemble flowers. The taste is healthy and fresh. This is a nice dessert that is patriotic but not high in sugar. Place these beautiful creations on blue trays and you will bring amazing color to your 4th of July table. Here is how it is done. About.com Southern Cuisine ]]> http://www.independencedayfun.com/where_to_find_great_patriotic_dessert_recipes-17310.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/where_to_find_great_patriotic_dessert_recipes-17310.php Recipes festive five holiday_desserts ideas july_4th Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:31:39 -0800 How can you keep your July 4th special holiday desserts cool and bacteria free at your BBQ? This is an important question. The reason is that there are well over 6.5 million reported cases of food poisoning every year. Keep in mind that there are many cases that are never even reported. So that number is higher for the actual cases. Out of that number there are roughly 10,000 cases of food poisoning that are fatal. However, there are things you can do as the one bringing the food, which can help keep your family and guests safe. The best way to ruin a party is hand out the bacteria that can cause food poisoning. There are three different types of microorganisms that can cause sickness from foods; they are yeasts, molds and bacteria. It is the bacteria that we will need to worry about the most. This is because bacteria can cause the problems in most of the foods we would make. This is also what would be in our desserts. So here are some key ways to keep your food safe, cool and bacteria free, as much as possible. Staphylococcus, botulism and salmonella grow in temperatures between 50 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that in order for your desserts to be safe from harmful bacteria, you need to keep your food either over 140 or under 50 degrees Fahrenheit. There is the rule of four hours for bacteria to grow. However, this includes preparation time, travel time etc. There really is not as much time as you think. Here are ways that you can keep your desserts cool and safe for your BBQ. 1. When you are creating your deserts, cool them quickly. This will help keep the bacteria from growing during preparation. 2. Keep all desserts in the refrigerator or cooler until it is time to serve it up. 3. Keep the items separate for each recipe as long as you can. For instance, make the cake, but put fruit and toppings on when you serve the cake. 4. Chill the containers that your desserts will be served in. 5. Keep all deserts shaded when out on tables. http://www.independencedayfun.com/keeping_your_picnic_food_safe_to_eat-17308.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/keeping_your_picnic_food_safe_to_eat-17308.php Recipes bacteria_free BBQ cool holiday_desserts how July4th keep Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:05:04 -0800 Decadent Black Forest Cake: This cake is very rich, but looks light and tasty. You will need: 1 super moist triple chocolate fudge cake mix 1 14 oz sweetened condensed milk 4 oz package of white chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix 4 large eggs ½ cup vegetable oil ½ cup of milk Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Then you will want to combine the ingredients listed above in a mixing bowl. Mix with the mixer until smooth. Lightly grease and flour two round cake pans. Then put the batter into the cake pans. Cook for about 30 minutes. Check with a toothpick, when it comes out clean, it is done. Then you will need: 1 21 oz can of cherry pie filling 1 tsp vanilla ½ cup brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla Combine these ingredients. Then put one of the cakes on a serving platter. Spoon some of this filling onto this cake, and spread it around. Keep some of this topping for the top of the cake. Then you can put the top cake on. Now frost the rest of this cake with a standard whip cream frosting, or you can make your own. Vanilla works well with this type of cake. However, you can also use other white frostings. Save a little of this white frosting for stars. Now you can put the leftover cherry mixture in the middle. With the left over white frosting add a little food coloring to make red and blue stars on the top of the cake. Chill ‘til time to serve.]]> http://www.independencedayfun.com/awesome_decadent_black_forest_cake-17299.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/awesome_decadent_black_forest_cake-17299.php Recipes awesome desserts family friends holiday july_4th share Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:27:13 -0800 Tasty treats What all-American holiday celebration would be complete without treats? A cookie or donut eat-off is sure to leave a smile on your guests’, and on-lookers’, faces. All you do is string up these tasty treats on a stick or tree branch so that they are 4-5 feet from the ground. On the count of three everyone tries to eat their treat without using their hands and without letting the treat drop to the ground. To add even more difficulty, you can have your contestants blindfolded. Bubble gum blowing contests are also fun. Use red, white and blue gumballs to see who can blow the most or the biggest bubbles in a certain period of time. Blow a bubble and then add a new piece of gum to your mouth. See who can chew and blow bubbles with the most pieces of gum. Theme Capture the Flag is a classic school yard game that can easily be transformed into capture the American flag and played in your front or backyard. The rules are the same, but the flag is an actual American flag. American themed relay races also incorporate Patriotic themed props such as flags, balloons, hula hoops, Frisbees, etc. Props and party favors are always fun ways to incorporate the 4th of July theme. Just be sure to remind guests of the proper respect to show American flags, even if they are miniature versions. ]]> http://www.independencedayfun.com/tips_for_independence_day_parties_that_go_off_with_a_bang-17074.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/tips_for_independence_day_parties_that_go_off_with_a_bang-17074.php Games 4th_of_July active ages balloons fireworks flag fun games outside party theme treats water Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:25:58 -0800 The 4th of July is a fun day to get together with family and friends to celebrate Independence Day. The 4th of July is typically a time of barbeques, picnics and fireworks. 4th of July party games can also add a lot of festive fun to your day. You can really make your 4th of July party great by using games. Here are a few 4th of July party game ideas to get you started: 1. Candy jar guessing game – fill a jar with red, white and blue candies (peppermints, saltwater taffy, gum balls, jelly beans, etc.) and count how many candies you have placed in the jar beforehand. Set the jar out on a table along with some blank pieces of paper and a bowl for your guests to put their number guesses in (have people write their names next to their number guess). Once everyone has written down their guess, look at all the guesses to find who guessed closest to the actual number of candies in the jar. That person wins the jar of patriotic candy. 2. American history trivia – create quizzes, word searches, crossword puzzles or word scramble games to test your party guests’ Independence Day knowledge. Questions could include things like: name the 13 original colonies, name as many U.S. Presidents as you can, list some words commonly associated with the 4th of July. 3. Have your own parade – If you are having a large group over to your house, put on your own neighborhood parade. Ask your guests to bring their bikes, wagons, instruments, patriotic costumes, etc. Set some time aside before the parade to decorate bikes, scooters and wagons like floats by using construction paper, streamers and flags. Bring a CD player and play patriotic music. Parade up your street or around the block. http://www.independencedayfun.com/make_your_4th_of_july_party_really_great_with_games-17073.php http://www.independencedayfun.com/make_your_4th_of_july_party_really_great_with_games-17073.php Games 4th_of_July ages blue candy jar children decorate Independence_Day patriotic Piñata race red trivia white word Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:24:04 -0800