Why is Independence Day celebrated on July 4th?
A. Because that is when the tea party took place. B. Because that is when the Revolutionary War ended giving the colonies their freedom. C. Because that is when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. D. Because that is when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
What is the origin of Labor Day? How did families celebrate summer in times past? Reading and analyzing written documents – books, newspapers, magazines, journals, letters, diaries, advertisements and songsheets – can help students understand the origin and meaning of these special days. Holiday-related primary source documents can be found throughout the American Memory collections. Start students off by analyzing this 1919 advertising booklet – This Year’s Summer Reading. Follow the three-step analysis process – observe, think and ask. Use the following guiding questions or develop your own. Use the graphic organizer to take notes. Observe: Click on the cover of the booklet to explore its 19 pages. What company published the book list? Where is this company located? Describe the illustration on the cover. What are the people wearing? What are they doing? Who was the artist? Browse through the featured titles? Do the book descriptions include content summaries or book reviews? What ty
