Independence Day was first celebrated on July 4, 1777, as American revolutionaries were engaged in a challenging military struggle against the British Army. Rockets were shot into the sky in honor of the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and were augmented with cannon blasts. Symbolically, 13 blasts were fired in celebrations across the nation, in recognition of the independence of each of the 13 colonies. Thus, the earliest use of "fireworks" on Independence Day served a rebellious purpose, to support American efforts in the Revolutionary War. Such confident shows of force on the Fourth of July surely must have intimidated loyalist colonists who were rooting for British forces to gain an advantage over General George Washington's army.
Fourth of July fireworks are set off as visible signs of American patriotism. Even before signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776, early American patriot John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that the document should be annually commemorated through "solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty," in the form of "pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other." Historically, American patriotism was infused with a deistic element, whereby supernatural favor ensured that natural rights were accorded to colonists who resisted tyrannical British rule. Displays of fireworks are intended to be awe-inspiring, capturing the attention of viewers of all ages, and inspiring a reverence for core American values.
The measure of any successful fireworks display is that it entertains its intended audience. Filled with an array of bright lights and booming sounds, an Independence Day fireworks show is bound to unify the community, if only for a few moments. In his book "Red, White, and Blue Letter Days: An American Calendar," Matthew Davis analyzes the "delightful meaninglessness of fireworks," reflecting, "if viewers are transfixed by the extraordinary presence of the spectacle, such exhibitions have no essential meaning, nor can they bear complicated, partisan messages." Essentially, fireworks hold the power to appeal to every segment of the population, regardless of political differences.
Fireworks displays remind us of the freedoms we enjoy, and how easily such freedoms can be lost if they are not defended. In 1967, as the nation was mired in the Vietnam War, President Lyndon Johnson recognized the continuing significance of Independence Day, remarking, "as fireworks flash in our skies, let us remember the cannons flaming across the seas...for the freedom we celebrate is ours only because of the valor of the brave Americans who were -- and are -- willing to die for it." Fireworks shows may be harmless events, but real bombs bursting in the air during the midst of warfare pose a threat to vitality of American ideals.