Charles Carroll and John Adams: Founding Fathers' Legacies on Independence Day

Charles Carroll de Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the 1776 Declaration of Independence, was the sole Catholic among the signatories and one of the wealthiest colonists, with an estimated modern‑day fortune of about $325 million. A portrait from 1846 shows him, and biographical accounts note his role as a vocal advocate for religious liberty in the new republic.

John Adams, who later became the United States’ second president, wrote to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776 predicting that the following day would be celebrated with “pomp and parade, … bonfires and illuminations.” He foresaw fireworks becoming a central feature of Independence Day, a tradition that traces its roots to ancient Chinese firecrackers and was popularized in the colonies during the 17th century. Modern celebrations, such as Idaho’s Melaleuca Freedom Festival, continue this legacy with synchronized fireworks displays.

Both men’s writings illustrate how early leaders envisioned the annual commemoration of American independence, linking Carroll’s advocacy for liberty with Adams’s forecast of nationwide festivities.