The Quartet and the 4th of July

The Quartet (1:04) Guest: Joseph Ellis, Ph.D., Pulitzer-prize winning author of “The Quartet” America’s Independence is Top of Mind this hour. The Declaration of Independence was published on July 4, 1776 – early in the Revolutionary War with Britain. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Joseph Ellis says that was merely the first American Revolution. The second started after the war ended, culminating in 1788 with the signing and ratification of the Constitution to create one nation, united – rather than 13 states loosely allied in the way that the countries of the European Union are today. You see, the United States of America was not a foregone conclusion in the beginning and was, in fact, a revolutionary idea foisted on the states and their citizens by an ambitious foursome Ellis calls “The Quartet.” History of the 4th of July (50:50) Guest: Paul Warner, Executive Director of “America’s Freedom Festival at Provo”; Adam Criblez, Ph. D., Professor of History, Director for the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University, author of 2013 book “Parading Patriotism: Independence Day Celebrations in the Urban Midwest, 1826-1876” Every year, Provo, Utah hosts one of the largest Fourth of July festivals in the country. It includes dozens of events - a speech contest, colonial reenactments, a street carnival, hot air balloon launches and a big parade – culminating with a massive stadium event with headline musicians, a famous emcee and a lot of fireworks. Some 50,000 attend the “Stadium of Fire,” as it’s called. We spoke with Executive director of the event, Paul Warner. But how did such grand celebrations begin? Adam Criblez is the author of the 2013 book Parading Patriotism: Independence Day Celebrations in the Urban Midwest, 1826-1876. In it, he describes how parades and fireworks and pancake breakfasts have become part of 4th of July celebrations.