For Americans, July 4th is one of our most cherished holidays: Independence Day.
Barbecue smoke fills the air, and fireworks light up the night sky across the country.
It’s a day to celebrate the “freedom” our ancestors secured 249 years ago.
Yet, sadly, not many Americans fully grasp the deeper narrative behind this celebration, particularly its economic underpinnings and how they connect to today’s politics.
Frankly, I’m also uncertain how much interest this will spark in readers across the Pacific, in Japan.
Nevertheless, I hope this piece conveys that Independence Day is far more than just a party; it’s a profound day with deep historical significance.
Many Americans understand the American Revolution as a fight for the noble ideal of “freedom.”
This is undoubtedly true.
However, what that “freedom” specifically meant, and how its realization was deeply intertwined with economic motives, is rarely discussed.
