BackStory - Independence Daze: A History of July 4th.
From: BackStory with the American History Guys
Length: 00:54:00
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Piece Description
Everybody knows that July Fourth celebrates our nation’s beginnings. But for the first 94 years of our existence, the Fourth wasn’t an official holiday at all. The Declaration of Independence itself sat untended in a dusty archive for 150 years. So how did Independence Day become the holiest day on our secular calendar? And why do we observe it with hot dogs, fireworks and mattress sales?
In this hour, the History Guys explore the origins and curiosities of July Fourth. They reveal the holiday’s radical roots, and look how the Declaration’s meaning has changed over time. They also consider how the Declaration’s messages about liberty and equality have been embraced by the descendents of slaves. And as always, they take calls from BackStory listeners looking to the past to understand the America of today.
Highlights Include:
* Historian Pauline Maier (American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence) contrasts the sections of the Declaration of Independence that mattered to the Founders with the sections that matter today.
* July 4th chronicler James Heintze (The Fourth of July Encyclopedia) recounts the early days of celebrating independence, with a special focus on explosives.
* Historian David Blight (Frederick Douglass’ Civil War: Keeping Faith in Jubilee) analyzes Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech, “The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro,” widely known as one of the greatest Abolitionist speeches ever.
Timing and Cues
SHOW RUNDOWN
00:00 – 00:59 BILLBOARD
IC: From VFH Radio in Charlottesville, Virginia, this is Backstory.
OC: First, this news.
01:00 – 05:59 NEWS HOLE
06:00 - 18:59 SEG A
IC: This is Backstory, with us, the American History Guys.
OC: We'll be back in a minute.
6:00 - 9:28 A Whole Show about the Fourth?!
Two Guys express skepticism about an hour devoted to the Fourth of July, but 18th Century Guy Peter Onuf paints a vivid picture of colonists' need to revolt.
9:29 - 14:58 Declaring Independence
Peter talks to historian Pauline Maier about the most important parts of the Declaration (not the first paragraph!), and how meanings of "independence" have changed over time.
14:59 - 18:59 From Parchment to Parades
The Guys ask Peter how a piece of paper became the basis for hot dogs, politics and fireworks. Peter explains.
19:00 - 19:59 STATION BREAK 1 (MUSIC BED)
20:00 - 38:59 SEG B
IC: This is Backstory, the show that looks to the past…
OC: ...and J. M. Weinberg.
20:00 - 26:08 Kaboom!
Ed and Peter interview Jim Heintze, who has chronicled history's most explosive July Fourth celebrations. We also hear from a few of today's fireworks planners.
26:09 - 38:59 Listener Calls
Kelly wants to know if Laura Ingalls Wilder's portrayal of the Fourth rings true, and Greg wonders what happened to America's true revolutionary spirit.
39:00 - 39:59 STATION BREAK 2 (MUSIC BED)
40:00 - 59:00 SEG C
IC: This is BackStory. I'm Peter Onuf...
OC: ...at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
40:00 - 47:00 More Listener Calls
More calls from BackStory listeners. Pam from Canada asks about the 1812 Overture. Reverend Tim feels conflicted on the Fourth about church and state
48:41 - 57:44 Frederick Douglass' Fourth of July Speech
Historian David Blight narrates a reenactment of Frederick Douglass' 1852 speech, "The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro," in which Douglass highlights the hypocrisy of celebrating liberty in a nation that allows slavery.
57:45 - 58:59 PRODUCTION/FUNDING CREDITS
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Contact: Producer, Tony Field (434) 924-8922, tfield@virginia.edu
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