This blog post provides you with a quick overview of interesting facts about this great holiday. How many of these facts are you aware of? Test your knowledge!
- July 2nd is the real day of Independence, but it’s celebrated on the fourth because that’s when Congress accepted Jefferson’s declaration.
- Only John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776; all the others signed later.
- Thomas Jefferson changed the wording of the Declaration of Independence from “the pursuit of property” to “the pursuit of happiness.”
- The only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later served as President of the United States were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
- The first Independence Day celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.
- President John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on the Fourth of July. Adams and Jefferson (both signed the Declaration) died on the same day within hours of each other in 1826.
- On July 4, 1778, George Washington ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers to celebrate the holiday.
- Every 4th of July the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped (not actually rung) thirteen times in honor of the original thirteen colonies.
- Americans consume around 155 million hot dogs on the Fourth of July each year. They also spend $92 million on chips, $167.5 million on watermelon, and $341.4 million on beer.
- NYC has America’s Biggest Fourth of July Fireworks Display.
– The show lasts 25 minutes, firing off approximately 3,000 shells per minute.
– It takes 55 crew members 10 days to set up the fireworks.
– More than 3 million spectators view it.
WageWatch Wishes You a Happy Fourth of July!