Independence day of America

The first fact is the most important one; July 4, 1776 is the day the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence.

Three dates are significant to the holiday. Independence Day was made an unpaid holiday for federal employees by Congress. In 1938, it became a paid holiday, and in 1941, Congress declared it a federal holiday.

There were 2.5 million people living in the United States in July of 1776.

There are 56 signatures on the Declaration of Independence. They did not all sign at the same time because some were not present. Most historians agree that they all signed by August 2, 1776.

The words “under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954.

The stars were arranged in a circle on the first flag to show that all the colonies were equal.

The national Anthem was set to the tune of an English drinking song, named “To Anacreon in Heaven”.

The major reason for the U. S. to declare independence was taxation without representation.

The first two Liberty Bells were defective, so the third Liberty Bell was rung every Fourth of July from 1778 on, until it cracked in 1835. It has been silent since then.

That comes out to be one hotdog for every two people.

Over 150 million hotdogs will be eaten at Fourth of July celebrations all over the country.

More than 74 million people will have an Independence Day cookout.

Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. The Liberty Bell rang out from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 8, 1776. It was sounded to bring the people out to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. It was read by Colonel John Nixon.

In 1805, Lewis and Clark celebrated the first July 4th celebration west of the Mississippi, at Independence Creek.

In 1779, July 4th fell on a Sunday, so it was observed the following Monday.

In 1777, Bristol, Rhode Island celebrated July 4th by firing 13 gunshots, once in the morning and once again in the evening. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania commemorated our independence with an official Continental Congress dinner, parades, prayers, music, fireworks, speeches, 13 gun salutes, and more.

In 11 places, the name includes the word “independence”. Independence, Missouri is the most populated.

Five locations use the name “freedom” with Freedom, California, having the largest population. There is one place named “patriot”, and that is Patriot, Indiana.

Five locations have “America” in their name, the largest being American Fork, Utah.

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national symbol, but most people voted for the bald eagle, chosen by Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

30 locations in the United States have the word “liberty” in them. The one with the highest population is Liberty, Missouri.

211 million dollars are spent on fireworks every year.

1801 was the first time a July 4th party was held at the White House.

1791 was the year that the name “Independence Day" was used for the first time. It may have been used before then, but that was the first time it was recorded.

1781 was the year the first state legislature, the Massachusetts General Court, established July 4th as a state celebration.

1778 saw General George Washington celebrating by giving his soldiers a double ration of rum and having an artillery salute. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were in Paris, France, and held a dinner for other Americans there.