Top Ten Fourth Of July Fun Facts
Happy Independence Day from InTouchPOS. The United States is rich in history, and July 4th marks the anniversary of our nation’s independence, or does it? Here we present our top ten Fourth of July fun facts for you to share during this year’s celebration.
“Thomas Jefferson was the main author of the Declaration of Independence. Four others were also on the committee: Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Robert Livingston.”
“One of the greatest misconceptions of the 4th of July lies in the name and date. It is widely believed that America declared their independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. However, the official vote actually took place two days before and the “Declaration” was published in papers on July 4.”
“Congress made Independence Day an official unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870. In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.”
“Other early July 4 traditions have not carried through to the present day. Some colonists celebrated the day by holding mock funerals for England’s King George III, as a way of reinforcing America’s victory over the British monarchy, according to History.com.”
“George Washington supposedly celebrated America’s independence by giving double rations of rum to his solders in 1778.”
“The tradition of setting off fireworks on Independence Day began on the holiday’s first anniversary in 1777. On July 5, 1777, the Pennsylvania Evening Post reported that, “there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated” the night of July 4. That same night, the Sons of Liberty set off fireworks over Boston Common.”
“Only two people actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4: John Hancock and Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress. Most of the others signed on August 2.”
“On June 14, 1777, less than a month before the very first Independence Day celebration, the Continental Congress passed a resolution creating America’s first official flag: “Resolved, that the Flag of the thirteen United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.””
“Benjamin Franklin wanted the national bird to be a Turkey. He said the bald eagle is a bird of bad moral character, the turkey is a more respectable bird.”
“Philippines celebrates July 4 after Independence from the United States. Ironically, on July 4th, 1946, the Treaty of Manila was signed in the Philippines giving them independence from…The United States.”
