@nowthisimpact: In 1976, the U.S. celebrated its 200th birthday — the Bicentennial. Nearly 250 million people took part in events across the country, making it one of the largest national celebrations in U.S. history. In Washington alone, about 1 million people watched the July 4 fireworks, while around 6 million lined New York Harbor for Operation Sail. That same weekend, the activist‑led People’s Bicentennial Commission held a protest that drew an estimated 10,000–15,000 people to the nation’s capital.