For a fleeting period during the height of the Progressive Era, the Fourth of July served a dual purpose in the American consciousness. Between 1915 and 1918, as the shadows of the Great War lengthened across the Atlantic, communities from Indianapolis to New York City transformed Independence Day into "Americanization Day." This holiday was designed […]

In the sweltering July heat of the early 20th century, the Fourth of July served as more than a celebration of the Declaration of Independence. Between 1915 and 1918, a period defined by global conflict and unprecedented migration, a secondary holiday emerged across the United States: Americanization Day. This initiative, which saw tens of thousands […]