Tax News The History of the 4th of July and Taxes Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam Modified Aug 23, 2019 Happy Independence Day! On America’s 238th birthday, we’re celebrating by sharing a brief history of the good ol’ red, white and blue. Did you know that America’s fight for independence began with taxes? It’s true. “Taxation without representation!” This catchy slogan was the chant of the thirteen colonies, and it captured their main grievance against Britain. Since the colonists didn’t have direct representation in British Parliament, they believed Britain didn’t have a right to levy taxes onto the colonies. In the colonists’ eyes, taxes like the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, would only get worse and should be deemed illegal, a feeling that spurred on the American Revolution. So what actually happened on July 4th, 1776? The Declaration of Independence, authored by Thomas Jefferson, was approved by Congress. It proclaimed the thirteen colonies as newly independent sovereign states and indicted George III for imposing taxes on them without their consent. And as they say, the rest is history. Philadelphia celebrated the holiday as early as 1777, with a parade, a thirteen-shot cannon salute, and fireworks. But it would take Congress 94 years to officially sign the date into history – declaring July 4th Independence Day in 1870. So raise your flag, fire up the grill, enjoy the warm weather, and thank the thirteen colonies for setting history into motion! Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam More from TurboTaxBlogTeam Browse Related Articles Income and Investments Investing During Inflation Family Fall Family Activities That Fit In Any Budget 2022-03-24 Income and Investments Create New Year Financial Resolutions You’ll Keep Self-Employed Do Creators Pay Taxes on Money Earned? Deductions and Credits Virtual Wedding? Deduct Your Wedding Dress on Your Taxe… Taxes 101 First Time Taxpayers: Your Go-to Guide For Filing Your … Why is My Tax Refund Not What I Expected Leave a Reply Cancel reply