The Fifty-Fourth of July

"The Fifty-Fourth of July" by Alan Edward Nourse is a science fiction story set after a huge economic crash caused by rockets failing. It's about what happens when people chase technology too hard, using a special Rocket as the main symbol. The story follows Matt Matthews, who is with a group planning to attack a fort guarding the Rocket. A leader named Colonel Gorham won't give up the Rocket, even though things are terrible outside. Then, Loevy shows up, saying he can make peace, but he ends up revealing scary secrets about the government and what's really going on in the world. Matt has a lot of anger toward the rockets, especially after his family suffers because of them. In the end, Matt decides to blow up the Rocket, wanting to get rid of what it represents from the past. But he also understands that keeping the plans for it might help humanity explore space again someday, but without repeating the same mistakes.