History...The first Independence Day was celebrated in 1777 while fighting still raged. Ever since then, Americans across the country have celebrated this very important day. Independence

History | Year 3 | Celebrations around the World | Independence Day | Lesson 8

Celebrations around the World

History

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Success Criteria

Aim

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• Statement 2• Sub statement

Success Criteria

Aim• To understand the history of Independence Day in the USA and how

it is celebrated.

• I can explain the history of Independence Day in the USA.

• I can discuss how Independence Day is celebrated in the USA.

Independence Day

Independence Day is celebrated by more than 320 million Americans every year!

Did You

Know?

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Australia Day in Australia, St George’s Day in England, Bastille Day in France, Waitangi Day in New Zealand.

Can you and your partner name any other national days from around the world?

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Independence Day is celebrated in theUnited States of America (USA) every year.

The day is also known as the Fourth of July because it is celebrated on 4th July.

It is the USA’s national day.

Let’s find out more about the fascinating history of theUSA and how Independence Day came to be celebrated.

Talk to your partner. Tell them what you think independence means.

First People

History of Independence Day

Scientists believe that the first people to reach North America camefrom Asia. They walked across a land bridge that joined Siberiaand Alaska during an ice age.

The earliest records suggest the first people crossed into North America about 30 000 years ago!

Lower sea levels because of frozen polar ice and the sea ice was frozen.Why do you think people could walk from Siberia to Alaska only

during the ice age?

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History of Independence Day

Hunter Gatherers

Over time, people spread to every corner of thecontinent. Some even continued on into South America.

These people lived as hunter-gatherers.

People who rely on wild food to survive.hunter-gatherers

First, they hunted woolly mammoths forfood. Later, many of these people reliedon the huge herds of buffalo that lived on thewide open plains for food and clothing. People living on the coast caught fish, shellfish, clams and sea birds.

History of Independence Day

Civilisation

By about 1000 BC, tribes of people speaking many different languages could be found all across North America.

People who travel from place to placeand do not have permanent homes.

nomads

Some tribes lived in permanent settlements with buildingsand farms. The most important crop was corn.

Other tribes lived as nomads. They travelled across the vast land, following the buffalo herds and other animals they hunted.

History of Independence Day

European Exploration

Many years later, European explorers began to arrive in North America.

Farmland, gold.Turn to your partner. Why do you think Europeans came to North

America? What do you think they were looking for?

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Canada

USA

1000 – Vikings landed inNewfoundland and establisheda settlement called Vinland.

1492 – ChristopherColumbus landedin the Bahamas.

1513 – Juan Poncede León landed onmainland America.

History of Independence Day

European Colonisation

Before long, Europeans began to colonise North America. Britain came first but soon France, Sweden and the Netherlands established colonies as well.

Canada

USA

1620 – Pilgrims arrived from Britainand established the PlymouthColony in Massachusetts.

1607 – First permanent Europeansettlement was established atJamestown, Virginia by Britain.

1732 – Britain establishedGeorgia, their finalcolony in North America.

1664 – Britain seized the colony ofNew Amsterdam from the Netherlandsand renamed it New York.

Pilgrims werepeople who madea journey forreligious reasons.

By mid-1700s, Britain had established thirteen colonies and wasthe only European country left with colonies in North America.

History of Independence Day

American War of Independence

The population of North America rose rapidly following European colonisation.

1700 –225 000 colonists

1770 –2 221 000 colonists

Many of these people no longer saw themselves as British. Instead,they saw themselves as Americans.

Soon people began to talk about independence. They wanted tocreate their own country. Britain, however, had no plans to givethe colonies their freedom. Soon, whispers about war began tospread across the land.

Then, two important events happened that would lead to war andchange American history forever.

The Boston Massacre, whichoccurred on 5th March 1770, wasa street fight between colonistsand a troop of British soldiers.Several colonists were killedduring the fight and this led todeeper anti-British feelings.

1770 - Boston Massacre 1773 - Boston Tea Party

In 1773, colonists refused to paytaxes on tea shipments andasked that the tea be returnedto Britain. When it wasn't, thecolonists decided to protestagainst the unfair taxes bythrowing 342 chests of tea intothe ocean.

History of Independence Day

American War of Independence

In 1775, fighting finally broke out betweenBritain and the American colonies. It wascalled the American War of Independenceor the American Revolutionary War. Thewar would go on for eight long years.

While fighting raged across America,the most important document inAmerican history was being written.

In 1776, the thirteen American coloniesproduced the document detailing whythey wished to break away from Britishrule and become independent states,known as the United States of America.

On 4th July 1776, Congress officially adopted the final version.This very famous document was called the Declaration of Independence.

The colonists who fought against the British wereknown as Patriots. The colonists who fought onthe British side were known as Loyalists.

Did You

Know?

X

Congress was the American parliament.

History of Independence Day

American War of Independence

Britain would not accept the Declaration ofIndependence and so the war continued.Many people died on both sides fromfighting and disease.

In 1778, France declared war on Britain. Then the following year, Spain declared war on Britain as well.

The American colonists, with help from France and Spain, slowly began to wear down the British army.

Finally, in 1783, Britain and the Americacolonists signed a peace treaty and endedthe American Revolutionary War. The UnitedStates of America was created.

During the war, the British soldiers were known as ‘redcoats’ or ‘devils’.

Did You

Know?

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Jigsaw

Well done so far everybody! Let’s consolidate what we’ve learnt so far.

On your own, complete the differentiated Independence Day Jigsaw Activity Sheet.

Independence Day Celebrations

The first Independence Day was celebrated in 1777 while fighting still raged. Ever since then, Americans across the country have celebrated this very important day.Independence Day even became a paid public holiday in 1938!

Turn to your partner. How do you think Americans celebrate Independence Day?

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Independence Day Celebrations

Independence Day is summer time in the USA. This meansmany of the celebrations take place outdoors.

Many people host barbeques for family and friends. It is atradition to wear red, white and blue on the day.

There are picnics, colourful parades and music concerts acrossthe country.

The longest running Independence Day parade started in Rhode Island in 1785!

Did You

Know?

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Hot Dog Eating Contest

Each year on Independence Day, a famous hot dog eating contest is heldin New York. It is watched live by 40 000 people and millions more ontelevision. The record for eating the highest number of hot dogs is heldby Joey Chestnut, who ate a whopping 74 hot dogs in just 10 minutes!

The love for hot dogs doesn’t stop there. In fact, Americans eat anincredible 155 million hot dogs every Independence Day.

“Hot Dog Easting Contest Coney Island” by Paulo Corceiro is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Independence Day Celebrations

The national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, can be heardwherever you go and politicians make passionate speeches to thepublic.

There are running events and car races held all over the nation.Thousands of people turn out to watch baseball games as well.

When the sun goes down, fireworks displays light up the night sky.

The biggest fireworks display is put on by the Macy’s departmentstore in New York. Millions of people turn out to watch theincredible show!

Venn Diagram

Great job everybody. Now you know all about the history ofIndependence Day and how Americans celebrate this veryimportant day!

How does Independence Day compare to our national day,Australia Day? With your partner, complete the IndependenceDay and Australia Day Venn Diagram.

Share with your partner three things you learnt about Independence Day.

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Success Criteria

Aim

• Statement 1 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

• Statement 2• Sub statement

Success Criteria

Aim• To understand the history of Independence Day in the USA and how

it is celebrated.

• I can explain the history of Independence Day in the USA.

• I can discuss how Independence Day is celebrated in the USA.