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6h ago

Fourth of July Celebrations Fuse Fireworks and Viral Memes

A flood of patriotic memes on social media highlights the digital dimension of Americans’ 249th Independence Day

An original copy of the Declaration of Independence on display in 2000. (BANG archive)
Image
The committee chosen to draft a declaration of independence for the 13 North American British colonies is shown at work in this 19th century engraving. The five members are (from left) Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. On July 1, 1776, the committee submitted their draft to the Continental Congress, which voted on July 2 for final separation, and approved and formally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
Illustration by Noah Hickey/The Dispatch. (Photo by Lucas Schifres/Getty Images)

Overview

  • Americans are observing the 249th Independence Day with fireworks displays, parades and barbecues in cities and small towns as schools and federal offices remain closed
  • Social media platforms have been flooded with Fourth of July memes that blend historic references and lighthearted barbecue humor
  • At a campaign event, President Trump suggested hosting a UFC match on the White House lawn to inaugurate America’s 250th birthday, a proposal that has not been formally confirmed
  • The holiday commemorates the Continental Congress’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a document chiefly drafted by Thomas Jefferson to assert the colonies’ right to self-governance
  • Editorials and public figures urged Americans to reflect on founding ideals of freedom, democracy and equality as guiding principles for civic engagement today