Topics of interest

A display of fireworks illuminates the sky near the statue of Leberty as seen from Jersey City, N.J. on July, 2004. (© AP Images)

Americans celebrate July 4th as their national Independence Day.  It is the day when the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776.

Although the Declaration of Independence paved the way for the formation of the United States, it took several more years until the U.S. Constitution was adopted. It was not until the 20th century that all Americans were eligible to enjoy “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as full citizens with all the same rights and privileges.

How much do you know about the 4th of July, the American flag, or how the U.S. government operates?

Would you like to test your knowledge by taking a quiz, or read the Bill of Rights?

Get a feel of America!

For information, visit the following links…

Resources:

The Fourth of July
http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/life/symbceleb/fourth_july.html
Information from the Census Bureau counting the number of ways Americans spend money on fireworks and attend parks.

Facts about the Flag
http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/life/symbceleb/usflag.html

EJournal USA: American Icons
http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itsv/0606/ijse/icons.htm
The word "icon" has religious roots. It originally referred to a picture of a sacred person, such as images of Christ in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. But the meaning has broadened to encompass any powerful symbol—for example, Newsweek magazine a few years ago published a list of the top "200 Pop Culture Icons.”

The Pledge of Allegiance
http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/life/symbceleb/pledge.html
On September 8, 1892, the Boston based "The Youth's Companion" magazine published a few words for students to repeat on Columbus Day that year. Written by Francis Bellamy, the circulation manager and native of Rome, New York, and reprinted on thousands of leaflets, was sent out to public schools across the country.

Making Sense of the Fourth of July
http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/life/symbceleb/makingsense_fourth.html
An article by Pauline Maier explaining the Fourth of July.

How the Federalist Papers Persuaded a Nation
http://www.america.gov/st/usg-english/2008/January/20071116185612xjsnommis3.854007e-02.html?CP.rss=true
The Philadelphia convention, following the course set out in the Virginia Plan, proposed having the people elect state conventions to approve the proposed Constitution.

Visit the National Archives website and get a glimpse at those historic documents which founded the United States!
http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/charters.html

EJournal USA: Snapshot USA
http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itsv/0606/ijse/ijse0606.htm
This edition of eJournal USA is designed to provide a central resource for information about the United States. It is but an introduction, tailored to the current generation of young people around the world, containing many facts and statistics, but also essays which describe a little of how Americans think about their country and the world.

Quiz on the American Government
http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/quizzes/government/quiz_q1.html
This quiz covers how the U.S. government works, including its systems, election processes, foreign policy, social programs, and more.