American Parties Throughout the Decades

With the Fourth of July coming up next week, everyone is getting ready to throw a few burgers on the barbecue, pack up a cooler for the parade, and head to a restaurant that offers a great view of the fireworks. Porches are donning red, white, and blue buntingsm, and American flags are flying high and proud. "Proud to Be an American" and "The Star Spangled Banner" are getting extra playtime on the radio. The upcoming week will certainly be patriotic.

As you head to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients necessary for Firecracker Punch and Fourth of July Pie, it might be a good idea to throw a box of cake mix into your cart. After all, America will be ringing in its 236th birthday.

Click here to Party Through the Decades – American Style

While the Fourth of July provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on how America has changed since it broke off from England all of those years ago, we thought we would take a look at how the culture of the nation has changed. And what defines culture more than the foods people eat, the drinks people drink, and the parties that people plan?

Slideshow: American Parties Throughout the Decades Slideshow

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