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| “The Flag is Bleeding” by Faith Ringgold (1930-2024) On this July 4th, I have both patriotic and pessimistic feelings. |
For today’s American National Holiday, celebrating the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, I want to wish my fellow Americans a happy holiday. Although our freedoms are severely in jeopardy this year, I would like to think we can renew hope and renew our determination to keep advocating liberty and justice for all. Some Americans are so disillusioned by recent events that they say they don’t feel like celebrating. I understand that — but I still feel that we have a lot to be proud of, and to build on for the future.
A couple of years ago, I did some American history research that connects America and France — here for this year’s Paris in July I have repeated this blog post.
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| American flags at the Washington Monument. |
Looking at History:
How the French Helped the New United States
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| The Marquis de Lafayette. This portrait hangs in Blair House, where visitors to the President of the United States are currently housed. (source) |
The American War of Independence, also called the American Revolution, lasted from 1775-1783. The Declaration of Independence is dated July 4, 1776, and is the key date for the war in our collective memory. The war itself was bloody and costly in material goods, in lives, and in the emotions of the emerging nation. George Washington, as everyone knows, led the war effort, and then became the first President of the newly formed republic.
A young nobleman from France, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), volunteered in 1777 to assist the independence effort. His support included political action in gaining French help for the war, providing the American fighters with both arms and funds. Further, Lafayette, who was a trained military expert and a General in the French Army gave Washington hands-on leadership, helping him to form an effective fighting force from the untrained volunteers for the war.
In 1824-1825, Lafayette returned to the United States where he was received as the great hero that he definitely was. Many towns, streets, and monuments were named for him.
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| Statue of Washington and Lafayette by August Bartholdi, Paris. |
I'm including this history of Lafayette to connect the July 4th holiday to this month's Paris in July.
Blog post and photos © 2022-2024 mae sander
Happy 4th of July!
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a wonderful day!
I'm not feeling at all hopeful 😢
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to stay positive about our country but sometimes it is hard. Happy 4th to you.
ReplyDeleteYou have a much more positive attitude than I. But I will look forward to brats on the grill and fireworks across the lake. Last year the barge fell into the lake early on into the event so they were a wash out, so to speak! But right now celebrating the US is a little hard for me to take.
ReplyDeleteRight now we're being called on more than ever to be brave if we want to stay free. Go us!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a time when we need to be brave.
ReplyDeleteYes Mae, it is good to remember that without LaFayette and French help the US would have stayed under the British Crown, just like Canada ans Australia.
ReplyDeleteOf course it didn’t help French King Louis XVI. Sending 66 warships (that cost a fortune) 22,000 sailors and 12,000 soldiers depleted the French royal coffers. Then when the new US Republic could not repay/defected on the millions in cash and loans from France it brought an economic collapse there. Louis XVI had to impose new taxes on the already impoverished French who rebelled. This led to the French Revolution where King Louis XVI (age 38) and his wife Marie-Antoinette (age 37) were guillotined. So it didn’t help them or the French to come to aid America in their independence. Let’s hope they can keep it now, as Benjamin Franklin (first US ambassador to France) famously said.
My hubby is really up on U.S. history.
ReplyDeleteI learn about it and then forget!
Very interesting how you paired France to the states. I enjoyed reading about Lafayette because I had seen a PBS special about him some years ago. It was nice to be able to refresh my memory. Happy Independence Day, Mae.
ReplyDeleteAs an American living outside the USA for 20 years, I do feel the country maybe heading down a dark path.
ReplyDeleteI think that your rose-coloured spectacles are developing a deeper hue, Mae. There is cause for great concern.
ReplyDeleteIf a majority of people feel they can vote for a man running for president who sought to overturn the last election, I have deep concern for our country. If one of the branches of government is allowing another branch to have a great deal more power, I have deep concern for our country. Freedom? For whom?
ReplyDeleteI didn't feel like celebrating this year.
Great reminders, thanks!
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