Commemoration of the American Revolution facts for kids
The Commemoration of the American Revolution is all about celebrating the American Revolution and remembering the "Spirit of '76". This spirit means the feeling of patriotism and the desire for freedom that led to the founding of the United States. Because the Revolution is the story of how the U.S. began, it's taught in schools, celebrated with a national holiday, and remembered through monuments, art, and in movies and books.
Independence Day, also known as the "Fourth of July," is a big national holiday celebrated every year. People visit important places like Bunker Hill and Mount Vernon, which was George Washington's home. Mount Vernon was so popular that by the 1850s, ten thousand people visited it each year!
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Remembering the Revolution
Every country remembers how it started. This helps people understand their national identity and what patriotism means. The memory of the American Revolution has always been a source of national pride and a symbol in politics. For example, in the 21st century, the "Tea Party movement" used the Boston Tea Party as a symbol to protest against too much government control.
The Revolution is seen as the source of shared American values. It has shaped patriotism and how people understand the nation's birth. Specific battles are not as important as certain events and people who are celebrated for their good qualities. For instance, the American Revolution has a leader like Moses (George Washington), "prophets" (Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine), "disciples" (Alexander Hamilton, James Madison), and "martyrs" (people who died for the cause, like those in the Boston Massacre, Crispus Attucks, and Nathan Hale). It also has "devils" (Benedict Arnold), "holy sites" (Valley Forge, Bunker Hill), special events (Boston Tea Party), a "holy symbol" (the new flag), "sacred holidays" (Independence Day, Washington's Birthday), and "holy scriptures" (The Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights). These are all important parts of America's story.
Great Leaders
Many monuments and memorials honor the main Founding Fathers. The names of Washington and Jefferson are often used for buildings, statues, postage stamps, and money.
In the 1920s, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were chosen along with Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln to be carved into Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This was done by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and approved by President Calvin Coolidge. This famous site in South Dakota attracts millions of visitors every year. By 2005, over two million people visited Mount Rushmore annually.
Historic Sites and Battlefields
Today, more than 100 battlefields and historic sites from the American Revolution are protected. They are cared for by federal, state, and local governments. The National Park Service, a U.S. government agency, looks after over 50 battlefield parks and sites related to the Revolution.
In 2014, groups like the Civil War Trust and the Society of the Cincinnati started "Campaign 1776." This effort aimed to protect and explain the battlefields of the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Like the Civil War Trust, "Campaign 1776" works with both public and private groups to get money to buy battlefield lands. By the end of 2017, "Campaign 1776" had bought over 675 acres of land at 10 battlefields in six states. In 2018, the organization became the American Battlefield Trust, which now includes divisions for both the Civil War and the Revolutionary War.
The Bicentennial of 1976
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations in the mid-1970s. These events honored the historical moments that led to the creation of the United States as an independent country. It was a very important way to remember the American Revolution. The Bicentennial celebrations ended on Sunday, July 4, 1976. This was the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being adopted.
Commemorating the Revolutionary War with Stamps
After the first U.S. postage stamp was made in 1849, the U.S. Post Office often released special stamps. These stamps celebrated different events from the Revolutionary War.
Organizations Remembering the Revolution
Several organizations help keep the memory of the American Revolution alive. Many of them are made up of descendants of people who helped win American independence.
- Daughters of the American Revolution: This group was founded in 1890. Its members are women who are direct descendants of soldiers or others who helped the American cause during the Revolution.
- Children of the American Revolution: Founded in 1895, this is the oldest and largest patriotic youth organization in the nation. Anyone under 22 can join if they are a direct descendant of someone who served in the Continental Army or helped the cause of freedom.
- Society of the Cincinnati: This society was founded in 1783. Its members are men who are direct male descendants of officers from the Continental Army or Navy who served in the Revolutionary War.
- Sons of the American Revolution: Founded in 1889, this group's members are men who are direct descendants of people who served in the Revolutionary War or helped establish U.S. independence.
- Sons of the Revolution: This hereditary society was founded in 1876. Its members are men who are direct descendants of people who served as military officers, soldiers, sailors, or marines, or who were members of the Continental Congress, or helped American independence in other ways.
See also
- Legacy of George Washington
- Benjamin Franklin in popular culture
- Cultural depictions of Thomas Jefferson
- Washington's Birthday
- Jefferson's Birthday
- Pulaski Day
- Von Steuben Day
- Minor American Revolution holidays
