About Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
On February 29th 1952, Congress designated September 17th as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution that day in 1787 and recognize all American citizens.
Constitution Day And Citizenship Day are celebrated across the United States in order to commemorate the honor of creation and adoption of the constitution of the United States. The day is a celebration to all those who are citizens of the US either by their birth or naturalization.
The day is also known as the Citizenship day which is from the old "I am an American Day". "I am an American Day" was inspired by Arthur Pine who was head of a public relations firm in New York City. Pine got the idea for a day from the song of the title "I am an American" which was featured in the New York World’s Fair in 2019.
However, in 1949, all of the then 48 states had issued Constitution Day proclamations. On February 29th 1952. Congress moved that "I am American Day" would be an official day of observance on September 17th, to be known as Citizenship Day.
Constitution Week
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) initiated the observance in 1955 when the service organization petitioned the U.S. Congress to dedicate Sept. 17–23 of each year to the commemoration of Constitution Week.
Congress adopted the resolution, and on August 2nd 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into Public Law #915. The celebration’s goals are threefold: to encourage the study of the historical events that led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787; to remind the public that the Constitution is the basis of America’s great heritage and the foundation for its way of life; and to emphasize U.S. citizens’ responsibility to protect, defend and preserve the U.S. Constitution.
Celebrating Constitution Day
- On November 26, 1789, President George Washington created the first national Thanksgiving Day to give thanks to the Constitution.
- In the early 1900s, several states started to celebrate Constitution Day, but it was only in 1940 when Congress formally designated the third Sunday in May as “I am an American Day.” By 1952, the day was moved to September 17th and called Citizenship Day.
- In 1939, successful newspaper publisher William Hearst, of Hearst Communications, stated that there should be a holiday to celebrate American citizenship for new and existing citizens. He used his newspaper to build support for his idea.
- Senator Robert Byrd was responsible for Citizenship Day’s name change to Constitution Day in 2004.
- The focus of Constitution Day is to educate people about the importance of the American Constitution and the freedoms and rights it offers American citizens.
- Many American citizens observe Constitution Day by flying American flags. It is also a day to learn about the Constitution and to take pride in one’s community through organized community activities.
- Becoming an American citizen is a long process and requires immigrants and refugees to know and take on American values, language and culture. Applicants are required to take a citizenship test.
- The Constitution Day is a federal event but not a holiday.
- Aside from learning the history and importance of the highest law of the land, it is also a day to promote sanitation and environmental causes.
Constitution Day Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 27, 2020
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