The article "Why the United States of America Celebrates Independence Day on July Fourth" from BBC's HistoryExtra explains the origins of America's Independence Day, which commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Dr. Tom Cutterham discusses the historical context of the American Revolutionary War, the contributions of key figures like Thomas Jefferson, and the significance of the day in shaping America's identity.
In Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, learn how the colonies made the case for independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War. A Committee of Five, including Thomas Jefferson, drafted the document, drawing on ideas from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and John Locke. The Declaration outlined reasons for independence, the philosophy behind it, the king’s offenses, and concluded with the resolution for freedom. It was approved on July 4, 1776, and its original draft is now on permanent display in Washington, D.C.
In What Does the Statue of Liberty Stand For?, historian Lucy Worsley investigates the origins and meanings of the Statue of Liberty. When it was unveiled in 1886, women protested that women did not have liberty; neither was there liberty and equality for African Americans. Emma Lazarus wrote a poem, The New Colossus, which not only raised money for the statue but gave her a new purpose: to welcome immigrants from the rest of the world. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.
The article "Why the United States of America Celebrates Independence Day on July Fourth" from BBC's HistoryExtra explains the origins of America's Independence Day, which commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Dr. Tom Cutterham discusses the historical context of the American Revolutionary War, the contributions of key figures like Thomas Jefferson, and the significance of the day in shaping America's identity.
In Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, learn how the colonies made the case for independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War. A Committee of Five, including Thomas Jefferson, drafted the document, drawing on ideas from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and John Locke. The Declaration outlined reasons for independence, the philosophy behind it, the king’s offenses, and concluded with the resolution for freedom. It was approved on July 4, 1776, and its original draft is now on permanent display in Washington, D.C.
In What Does the Statue of Liberty Stand For?, historian Lucy Worsley investigates the origins and meanings of the Statue of Liberty. When it was unveiled in 1886, women protested that women did not have liberty; neither was there liberty and equality for African Americans. Emma Lazarus wrote a poem, The New Colossus, which not only raised money for the statue but gave her a new purpose: to welcome immigrants from the rest of the world. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.