Every year on the 4th of July, the United States celebrates its Independence Day with colourful parades, sizzling barbecues and fireworks. This national holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, when the thirteen American colonies officially broke away from British rule. 

Read on to discover three articles and poems from archives of magazines hosted on the Exact Editions platform that touch on American history and the July 4th celebrations themselves. 

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The TLS: ‘Unbridled liberty’ (25 November 2016)

“In an impressive book, he [Alan Taylor] mentions the achievements of the Founding Fathers, but they no longer hold a privileged place in the revolutionary story.”

The most popular accounts of the American Revolution written during the 20th century have celebrated the actions and beliefs of a small group of men known collectively as the Founding Fathers.

However, historian Alan Taylor dismisses this complacent interpretation in his book ‘American Revolutions’ and puts settlers, Native Americans and African Americans back into the story of American independence.

T. H. Breen reviews the book in the 25 November 2016 issue of The Times Literary Supplement.

Read the article, on page 30, here.*

Obsidian: Literature and Arts in the African Diaspora: ‘waiting on the mayflower’ (III: Vol.2 №1 Spring/Summer 2000).

“what, to the american slave, is your 4th of july?” — frederick douglass

Read ‘waiting on the mayflower’ in the III: Vol.2 №1 Spring/Summer 2000 issue of Obsidian: Literature and Arts in the African Diaspora. The poet Evie Shockley was born and raised in Tennessee and her many honors include the Holmes National Poetry Prize and fellowships from Cave Canem, the Millay Colony for the Arts, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library.

Read the poem, on pages 13–18, here.*

Remus: ‘American History 101, from 1960 to now’ ( Issue 57, Spring 2017) 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Martin Luther King

The British Museum’s children’s magazine Remus breaks down 5 recent events in American history for their audience in Issue 57 (Spring 2017), including Watergate, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Moon Landings. 

Read the article, on pages 6–7, here.*

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Digital subscriptions to The Times Literary Supplement, Remus and ‘Obsidian: Literature and Arts in the African Diaspora’ which include archive and ongoing access are all available in the Exact Editions consumer and institutional shops.

You can also click here to request a free institutional trial for your library to a wide range of digital magazines.

*All Reading Room links included in this article are valid until the end of 4th September 2025.