The Declaration of Independence Wasn’t Actually Signed in July
On July 4, 1776, Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence, but it actually wasn’t signed until almost a month later. When the declaration was officially approved on July 4, John Hancock and Charles Thompson (president and secretary of the Continental Congress) signed the draft that day. But the official copy wasn’t signed by all 56 signers until August 2, 1776.
Fireworks Were John Adams’ Idea
When John Adams wrote that letter predicting an annual Fourth of July celebration, he specifically called out one iconic tradition: Fireworks. He wrote that the holiday would be celebrated “with illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward, forevermore.” And judging by the amount of fireworks purchased each year (more on that below), I’d say he was correct.
Americans Spend $1 Billion on Fireworks Each July
According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, Americans spend $1 billion on fireworks each July. That’s a lot of bottle rockets and sparklers! The APA estimates that price adds up to about 268 million pounds of fireworks sold each year.
George Washington Celebrated the Holiday with Rum
While many of us enjoy a red, white, and blue cocktail on the Fourth of July, George Washington may have been the first to start the tradition. On the second anniversary of the first Fourth of July, America was still fighting for independence in the Revolutionary War. George Washington ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers (along with an artillery salute) to celebrate the holiday on July 4, 1778.
The First American Flag Only Had 13 Stars
The United States flag didn’t always have 50 stars. In fact, the original flag only had 13—which represented the 13 original colonies. The blue square with the stars is referred to as ‘the union’ on the flag, and should always be displayed at the peak of the flag staff or on the uppermost right side, if hung on a wall.
Americans Eat 155 Million Hot Dogs Each Fourth of July
According to Forbes, 155 million hot dogs are consumed each Independence Day, setting Americans back $104.7 million for the dogs and another $70.4 million for the buns. If you’re grilling up hot dogs this Fourth of July, try one of these 8 delicious combinations of toppings.
The First Fourth of July Was Celebrated in 1777
When the Declaration of Independence was finalized in July of 1776, future president John Adams wrote a letter to his wife Abigail, saying he expected the date to become an annual celebration in America—and he was right. In 1777, the first Fourth of July was celebrated with fireworks and parades.
One President was Born on July 4
Calvin Coolidge was the first (and so far, the only) president to have been born on the Fourth of July. He was born on July 4, 1872, in Plymouth, Vermont, and went on to become president in 1923.
Three Presidents Have Died on July 4
While only one president has been born on Independence Day, three have died on the holiday. Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson actually died on the same day, on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Fourth of July. Later, President James Monroe died on July 4, 1831.
The First Person to Sign the Declaration of Independence Was Never President
John Hancock famously was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence (that’s where the phrase ‘put your John Hancock here’ originates), so many people falsely assume he became president at some point. Although he was president of the Continental Congress, John Hancock never became president of the United States.
Apple Pie Is Considered the Most American Dessert
When the colonists first came to America, they were looking for ways to distance themselves from Britain. They ditched their traditional scones and cakes and learned how to make a flaky pastry crust from Dutch immigrants who had also come to America. Since apples were easy to come by, they filled the pastries with apple slices and the tradition of apple pie (and independence) was born.
The Fourth of July Wasn’t a Federal Holiday Until 1870
Although the holiday has been celebrated each year since 1776, it wasn’t declared an official holiday until 1870. Although the holiday was celebrated annually, it wasn’t until after the War of 1812 (when the U.S. faced Great Britain again and patriotic sentiments were at an all-time high), that the Fourth of July became an even larger celebration than before. Because of this, Congress declared it an official holiday in 1870, and in 1941, made the day a paid holiday for all federal employees.
The White House Held Its First Fourth of July Party in 1801
Each Fourth of July, a televised concert and fireworks show is presented from the National Mall in Washington D.C., but it wasn’t always celebrated this way. President Thomas Jefferson held the White House’s first Fourth of July celebration in 1801, starting the annual tradition.
Massachusetts Was the First State to Declare July 4 an Official Holiday
Although the holiday wasn’t made an official nation-wide holiday until 1870, the state of Massachusetts has recognized the holiday since 1781. Several months before America won the Revolutionary War, Massachusetts declared the Fourth of July an official state holiday… BH&G
