These Are Fascinating Facts About The Fourth Of July!

🇺🇸 Are you proud to be an American? Discover some mind-blowing facts about the Fourth of July that will make the hit of your July 4th BBQ! 🎉 #FourthOfJulyFacts #IndependenceDayFacts #AmericanFacts

ROCHESTER, MN – Get ready to have your mind blown by these incredible facts about the Fourth of July! From the historic signing of the Declaration of Independence to the modern-day celebrations that light up the skies, this holiday is packed with fascinating stories and traditions.

Prepare to be amazed as we dive into the captivating history and little-known details that make Independence Day one of the most beloved and significant celebrations in the United States.

🇺🇸 Fourth of July Facts

In 1776 when the United States declared independence, its population stood at a mere 2.5 million people.

The Declaration of Independence bore the signatures of 56 representatives from the original 13 colonies.

The city of Philadelphia holds the distinction of being the site of America’s first Independence Day fireworks display in 1777.

Widespread celebration of the 4th of July as a major holiday didn’t really take off until after the War of 1812. It took over a century, until the 1870s, for Independence Day to be recognized as a federal holiday and become one of the country’s most significant secular celebrations.

Massachusetts was ahead of the curve in recognizing Independence Day, becoming the first state to officially celebrate the 4th of July in 1781. The state legislature declared that date as the “anniversary of the independence of the United States of America” and called for an official state celebration – this was 90 years before the 4th of July became a federal holiday.

Fascinating Facts About The Fourth Of July That Will Make You Proud To Be An American

July 4, 1934 marked the day that Hungarian-American physicist Leó Szilárd filed the patent for the atomic bomb.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post holds the distinction of being the first newspaper to print the text of the Declaration of Independence.

Three U.S. Presidents who were also Founding Fathers – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe – all passed away on the 4th of July. Adams and Jefferson died on the same day in 1826, while Monroe passed in 1831.

Among all federal holidays in the United States, the 4th of July sees the highest beer sales, according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association. Memorial Day and Labor Day take second and third place respectively for holiday beer sales.

President Zachary Taylor narrowly missed being another July 4th presidential death. He fell ill with cholera during Independence Day celebrations and died 5 days later on July 9, 1850. It’s reported that upon returning home from the festivities, he consumed large amounts of water, fresh fruit, and iced milk before becoming sick.

Across the United States, you can find 33 places that incorporate the word “liberty” into their names.

Commercialization of the 4th of July is a relatively recent phenomenon. Prior to the U.S. Civil War, it was considered unpatriotic for businesses to remain open on Independence Day. But in the years following the war, shops and restaurants began selling red, white and blue themed merchandise.

Hot dogs are a quintessential 4th of July food – Americans consume around 150 million of them on Independence Day alone. If laid out end to end, that many hot dogs would stretch from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles more than five times over, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (part of the American Meat Institute).

Baseball is a big part of 4th of July traditions, with both major and minor league teams playing numerous games on the holiday each year.

It wasn’t until 1870 that the U.S. Congress passed legislation officially designating July 4th as a federal holiday. However, federal employees didn’t start receiving paid time off for Independence Day until 1941.

Malia Obama, daughter of the 44th U.S. President Barack Obama, was born on Independence Day in 1998.

The annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show in New York City is the largest Independence Day fireworks display in the nation. The show, which has been running for over four decades, launches an astounding 75,000+ individual shells at a cost of around $6 million for the retailer.

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In a letter to his wife, Founding Father John Adams predicted that Independence Day would go down in American history as a momentous and celebrated occasion.

In 2018, American spent an estimated $6.9 billion on food for July 4th picnics and barbecues, based on survey data from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

Artillery salutes and cannon blasts continued to be a key part of July 4th celebrations into the mid-19th century. However, as leftover military weaponry accumulated, public safety concerns grew. Eventually fireworks became the main form of ceremonial explosions during Independence Day festivities.

Fireworks are another July 4th staple, with Americans spending over $1 billion on them each year since 2014. Data from the American Pyrotechnics Association shows that 2014 was the first year U.S. fireworks industry revenue, including both display fireworks and consumer fireworks, topped the $1 billion mark.

Historically, July 2nd is the actual date that the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Great Britain, although the Declaration of Independence itself wasn’t issued until July 4th. The document was primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson, with input from a committee that included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, William Livingston, and Roger Sherman.

Fireworks, gun salutes, and cannon fire were long a part of Independence Day celebrations. Up until 1815, the U.S. had been engaged in recurring conflicts with Britain even after the War of 1812, so the displays of firepower during festivities served as morale boosters for soldiers and citizens.

Outside of the United States, Denmark hosts the largest July 4th celebration in the form of the annual Rebildfesten or Rebild Festival. Organized by the Danish-American Rebild Society (also known as the Rebild National Park Society) since 1912, the festival honors the historic ties and friendship between Denmark and the United States.

You can find five places in the United States with “America” in their names.

Calvin Coolidge stands out as the only U.S. president to date who was born on the 4th of July. Despite his quiet demeanor that earned him the nickname “Silent Cal”, he was known for his eloquence in expressing the enduring principles laid out in the Declaration of Independence.

Over the years, the U.S. flag has gone through 27 different official versions as new states joined the union and stars were added to represent them. The current 50-star version was adopted in 1960 after Hawaii became a state in 1959.

The town of Bristol, Rhode Island lays claim to having the longest running July 4th parade in the United States, with origins dating back to 1785. The modern day celebration now includes pageants like Miss Fourth of July and Little Fourth of July.

As President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. His iconic signature is the largest on the document, prominently placed in the center, which gave rise to the phrase “put your John Hancock on it” as a way of saying “sign your name.”

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In 1779 when July 4th fell on a Sunday, Americans chose to celebrate Independence Day on July 5th instead.

In a symbolic nod to the original 13 colonies, the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is rung 13 times every 4th of July. This tradition was carried out by descendants of the Declaration’s signers until 1846, when the practice was halted due to concerns about causing damage to the historic bell.

Danish chemist Max Henius, who immigrated to Chicago in 1881, spearheaded the group that came up with the idea for the July 4th festival. Henius and his fellow members of the Danish-American Rebild Society purchased 140 acres of land in their homeland and gifted it to the King of Denmark. That tract of land went on to become Rebild National Park, the first national park in Denmark, and a site for publicly celebrating America’s Independence Day while honoring the U.S. for its generosity in taking in Danish immigrants. The park is home to a Lincoln Log Cabin that serves as a museum dedicated to the history of Danish immigration.

July 4th is also the birthday of Stephen Foster, born in 1826, who is known as the “Father of American Music.”

President Donald Trump broke with decades of 4th of July tradition in Washington, D.C. Not only did he forego attending the usual festivities on the National Mall, he also gave a speech as part of his “Salute to America” program. Aided by a teleprompter, his 45-minute remarks spanned U.S. and military history in what he called “the greatest story ever told, the story of America.”

70-year-old Benjamin Franklin was the oldest to add his signature to the historic document.

The United States isn’t the only country that celebrates on July 4th – the Philippines commemorates its own independence from the U.S. on that date as well, dating back to 1946.

There are 11 U.S. locations that feature “independence” as part of their name.

It was on July 4th that the 13 colonies officially cut political ties with Britain. This newly declared American independence also marked the formalization of an alliance with France, which would provide crucial assistance in the war against the British.

The Independence Day festivities in Bristol, Rhode Island had humble beginnings, with fewer than two dozen people in attendance at the 1785 celebration. Nowadays, the town’s July 4th events kick off as early as Flag Day on June 14th, culminating in a grand 2.5-mile parade on the 4th.

Less than a month before that first 4th of July, on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing the first official American flag, stating “that the flag of the United States shall be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union is thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

Both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed in Philadelphia, although the Constitution wasn’t signed until September 1787, 11 years after the Declaration.

At just 26 years of age, Edward Rutledge was the youngest signatory of the Declaration of Independence.

July 4th, commonly known as Independence Day, is celebrated annually by Americans to commemorate the Continental Congress adopting the Declaration of Independence on that date in 1776.

🇺🇸 A Celebration of Courage, Sacrifice, and Vision

The Fourth of July is more than just a day off work filled with barbecues and fireworks. It’s a celebration of the courage, sacrifice, and vision of the men and women who fought for American independence and shaped the nation we know today.

As you enjoy the festivities this year, take a moment to reflect on the rich history and meaning behind the holiday. Share these fascinating facts with your friends and family, and let the spirit of Independence Day inspire you to appreciate the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy as Americans.

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