Independence Day in the USA
July 4 is the Independence Day of the United States. The United States won its independence
from Great Britain in 1776. People in the United States and Americans all over the world celebrate this
date proudly.1It’s a federal holiday,2 so most people don’t have to work. After having picnics and
barbecues with friends and family during the day, people in the U.S. come together to watch firework3
shows at night. July 4 is a day for people to show their patriotism and celebrate their freedom. Did you
know that July 2, 1776, was the real date the U.S. won its independence from Great Britain? This is the
day the original 13 colonies, then controlled by the king of England, legally separated from Great Britain
by presenting the Declaration of Independence. This is the official document that declared the United
States independence of the king’s control.
The Declaration of Independence was finalized but many
historians say it wasn’t officially signed4 until August 2. So why do people celebrate Independence Day
on July 4? John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on that date. They were the second and third
presidents of the U.S. Both John
Adams and Thomas Jefferson helped write the constitution and
died exactly 50 years later in 1826.
On Independence Day, people celebrate their independence in
many different ways. The flag is displayed5 in homes and businesses in all 50 states and people wear red,
white, and blue clothes. There are many small parades with civilians6 and the military. People come
together to have picnics and barbecues. In Washington, D.C., there is a big fireworks show that attracts
many people. You can remember how many states there are in the United States by looking at their flag.
It has 50 stars in a blue rectangle and 13 alternating red and white stripes. The stripes represent the
original colonies. There were approximately 2.5 million people living in the U.S. on July 4, 1776. In 2012,
the U.S. population passed 313 million people.
Reading Comprehension
1. When is the Independence Day of the U.S.?___________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Who did the U.S. win its independence from? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Why is August 2 mentioned in the reading?__________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Who were Thomas Jefferson and John Adams?________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Why are they mentioned?_________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. How do people celebrate Independence Day?_________________________________________
7. What does the flag look like?_______________________________________________________
1Proudly:
very happy because of something you have done
a day when most people don’t have to work
3Fireworks: a small device that explodes to make a display of light and noise
4Signed: write your name to make a document official
5Displayed: to put an object in a place where many people can see it
6
Civilian: a person who is not a member of the military
2Holiday:
Writing
Write about Independence Day in Brazil. How did Brazil win its independence? What do people do to
celebrate Brazil’s Independence Day? How is it different from the U.S.’s? What do you usually do on
Independence Day? What does Brazil’s flag look like? How many people lived in Brazil when it won
independence and how many people live in Brazil now?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Discussion
1. When is Brazil’s Independence Day?
2. From whom did Brazil win independence?
3. What does Brazil’s flag look like?
4. How is Independence Day celebrated in Brazil?
5. What are some similarities and differences between Independence Day in Brazil and the U.S.?
6. How do you celebrate Independence Day?
7. Do you think people should display Brazilian flags on Independence Day?
8. Do you think people should show more patriotism?
9. Do you think people from the U.S. display too much patriotism?