Introduction: In this article, Katie Rebecca Merkley searches old newspapers to learn about some of the ways our ancestors celebrated Independence Day in 1825. Katie specializes in U.S. research for family history, enjoys writing and researching, and is developing curricula for teaching children genealogy.

America has been celebrating independence for 249 years. Today, many people celebrate with barbeques, fireworks, and baseball. Two centuries ago, the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence were more recent, yet remembering why we celebrate July 4th was just as relevant then as it is now. Old newspapers show us how our ancestors celebrated Independence Day in 1825.

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Two-hundred years ago, people in New York had multiple options for celebrating July 4th. A newspaper published that day announced several events, all on a patriotic theme. For example, one theater was putting on a play called Bunker Hill; Or, Liberty or Death, and

In commemoration of the Declaration of Independence, the front of the theatre will be brilliantly illuminated, and a new transparency exhibited, painted expressly for the occasion.

Another celebration was held at Vauxhall Garden, organized by its proprietor, T. Madden, and “two Italian gentlemen, artists of the first order.” Along with the singing of patriotic songs and a theatrical presentation, a grand display of fireworks was promised.

Not to be outdone, a circus performance was also announced for the evening of July 4th. This announcement promises:

In honor of the glorious 4th of July, 1776, the circus will be brilliantly illuminated, and a grand emblematical transparency exhibited, painted expressly for the occasion, by Mr. Isherwood.

On this patriotic day, a clever entrepreneur in Maryland seized on the theme of independence to urge readers to come to his store and buy tickets in the Maryland state lottery, arguing:

‘There is nothing so calculated to qualify us for the celebration of the independence of our country, as to feel ourselves [financially] independent.”

G. J. Hunt wrote “Ode to the Fourth of July, 1825.” The poem celebrates the freedom that Americans fought for during the Revolutionary War and honors those who fell in that fight. This poem reminded readers why they were celebrating two centuries ago and reminds us why we still celebrate today. Hunt’s poem concludes:

This poem concludes:

Fair beauty joins the raptur’d throng,
Which dazzles through the day,
With joy, and mirth, and fitful song,
All happy, blithe and gay.
Sound! Sound, the trumpet in Freedom’s name!
Loud! Louder swell the song of Fame!

Hail! Day auspicious! Bright and Fair!
Columbia’s Jubilee;
Forever shalt thou be the star
That bade a world be free!
Sound! Sound, the trumpet in Freedom’s name!
Loud! Louder swell the song of Fame!

Many newspapers around the country celebrated Independence Day in 1825 by publishing the Declaration of Independence. In Pennsylvania, this newspaper also reminded its readers of the importance of Independence Day by publishing a copy of the Declaration of Independence, along with the following introduction.

This introduction reads:

We present our readers this day with a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and wish them health and long life, to enjoy that republican freedom & preservation of equality & self-government, upon which rests the hope of mankind; the basis of which was laid and wrought out by the embodied wisdom of the Continental Congress, and an army led by Washington and Lafayette, whom victory never elated, nor defeat depressed – they fought under the auspices of heaven; their cause was their country’s.

The Declaration of Independence declares that all men are created equal and have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Governments are responsible for securing these rights and should be altered or replaced if they infringe upon these rights. Then it goes on to list the wrongs the King of England had done against the British American colonies. The final paragraphs declare the colonies as the United States, absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown.

Many newspapers also published the names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, using large print for John Hancock’s name since he is famous for signing his name in large script.

Another reminder of the significance of Independence Day was a parade in Baltimore by the 1st Regiment Riflemen. “Another opportunity will be afforded us of celebrating the birth day of American freedom.” The riflemen paraded in full uniform early in the morning with three rounds of blank cartridges. This method of celebrating independence must have been effective in reminding people what they were celebrating.

Our ancestors celebrated American Independence every July 4th, just as we do now. Today we’ve read about some celebrations from 200 years ago in 1825; tomorrow we’ll look at some from 100 years ago, in 1925.

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Note on the header image: “Happy Fourth of July” illustration. Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html