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 Published Jul 4, 2014 - [Updated Aug 23, 2019] 1 min read 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! Previous Post Massachusetts Extends State Tax Deadline Until April 18th Next Post Tax Extender Update: TurboTax Has the Facts Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam More from TurboTaxBlogTeam Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Income and Investments The History of the Treasury: Our Nation’s Money … TurboTax News Wishing You a Happy and Safe Fourth of July! Tax Tips Tax Burden By Country (How the US Compares Internationa… Tax News Happy President’s Day! What Our Forefathers Thought A… Tax Planning Does My Stimulus Check Affect My Taxes? Tax Tips Value Added Taxes Around the World Health Care Obamacare and Taxes: How are They Connected? Tax News Taxes On America’s Favorite Beverage: Soda Tax Tips How Long Do You Have to Pay Taxes? Tax Tips Don't Forget to Pay Your Estimated Taxes