After being stuck inside in quarantine for a couple months now, I decided to take on the project of building my own PC (Personal Computer). I’ve never taken on such a big task like this before. Gaming has always been one of my favorite hobbies, so being fortunate enough to have the opportunity to build my own computer, I decided to take advantage.
From picking out the correct parts and waiting for them to come in the mail to spending a whole day building, the process has been exciting but very long. For all my friends interested in gaming, or computers, I highly reconmmend the fulfilling experience of building a PC yourself.
Fireworks, parades, family barbeques- all of what we usually
only think about when it comes to The Fourth of July. But why is it really celebrated
and what is the purpose behind this national holiday?
Way back in the 18th century the United States was not
considered the United States. In fact, what we now call states were called
colonies. The United States was an extension of England, but eventually differences
in life, thought, and interests began to develop which caused a rift between
Britain and America. Things abruptly changed in 1763.
Britain decided that the colonies needed to return revenue
to the mother country and they needed to pay for the colonies defense, which
was being provided by Britain. But the colonies did not agree with these new
rules at all. They felt that since they were not represented in Parliament that
they should not have to pay any kinds of taxes to the mother country, hence the
saying “no taxation without representation?” When Britain continued to tax, the
colonies formed the First Continental Congress to persuade the British
government to recognize their rights. When this did not work a war was
declared, which is known as the American Revolution.
After the First Continental Congress failed to persuade
Britain to recognize the colonies’ rights, and war was declared, things began
to heat up. During the American Revolution a second Continental Congress was
formed. It is this group that adopted the final draft of the Declaration of
Independence. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by John Adams,
Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. After
the first draft was written by Thomas Jefferson, it was revised by Ben
Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson before it was sent to Congress for
approval. All thirteen colonies stood behind the Declaration of Independence
and adopted it in full on July 4, 1776.
This is where the Fourth of July holiday comes in. The
Fourth of July is known as Independence Day because that is the day that the
Second Continental Congress adopted the full and formal Declaration of
Independence. Even though we had declared that we were independent, the
American Revolution was still being fought, which meant that we were still not
independent. Regardless of the ongoing war the following year, people in
Philadelphia celebrated a muted Fourth of July.
While celebrations on July 4th during the American
Revolution were modest, after the war ended in 1783 the Fourth of July became a
holiday in many places. The celebrations included speeches, military events,
parades, and fireworks. To this day the Fourth of July is the most patriotic
holiday celebrated in the United States.
