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The Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776 -

Even though the written Declaration of Independence was dated and approved on July 4, the National Archives notes that the Second Continental Congress voted for independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776.

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John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826 -

This is one of the most ironic Fourth of July facts. These two famous signers of the Declaration of Independence both died on its 50th anniversary.

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Another death on the Fourth of July -

And it gets stranger. Exactly five years later, James Monroe became the third US president to die on July 4.

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Only one US president was born on the Fourth of July -

While there have been a whopping three presidents to pass away on the Fourth of July, Calvin Coolidge is the only president to have been born on the American holiday. Coolidge was born om July 4, 1872, in Plymouth Notch, Vermont.

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Massachusetts became the first state to declare it an official state holiday -

In 1781, Massachusetts became the first state to declare the Fourth of July an official state holiday. However, it only became a federal holiday in 1870.

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The Liberty Bell is tapped 13 times on July 4 -

Every year on July 4, descendants of the Declaration of Independence signers tap the Liberty Bell 13 times. The tradition was created to honor the original 13 colonies.

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The Liberty Bell hasn't been rung since 1846 -

However, the last time the bell rang was on George Washington's birthday in February 1846, when a major crack appeared on the bell.

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The first to sign the Declaration of Independence -

While there were in total 56 signers, John Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776.

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The youngest and oldest to sign the Declaration of Independence -

Edward Rutledge was the youngest person to sign the Declaration of Independence at 26 years old, while Benjamin Franklin was the oldest at 70 years old.

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The first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence -

On July 6, 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence. It was the first daily newspaper in the US.

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George Washington celebrated the day during war -

During the Revolutionary War, in 1778, George Washington commemorated the Fourth of July by issuing double the usual rations of rum to each soldier in the Continental Army.

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Frederick Douglass challenged the idea of Independence Day -

On July 5, 1852, social reformer, writer, and abolitionist Frederick Douglass questioned what the day meant for slaves. He deemed Independence Day: "a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim."

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Not everyone in America was free on the Fourth of July -

Many people tend to discuss America's freedom from Great Britain when they discuss the Fourth of July. However, enslaved black people in America weren't granted freedom until June 19, 1865, following the Civil War. Today, this date is celebrated as Juneteenth.

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The oldest Fourth of July parade -

The oldest Fourth of July parade is celebrated in the town of Bristol, Rhode Island, every year. It's been happening since 1785.

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The use of fireworks on July 4 dates back to 1777 -

The tradition of setting off fireworks on Independence Day began on the holiday's first anniversary in 1777.

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Nathan's hot dog eating contest began in 1916 -

Nathan's annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest reportedly began on July 4, 1916. The first recorded contest took place in 1972, and in 2018 Joey Chestnut set a world record by consuming 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

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Americans consume a lot of hot dogs -

Speaking of hot dogs, Americans consume approximately 150 million hot dogs every Fourth of July. It's safe to say they're a holiday favorite!

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A holiday was created to rival Independence Day in 1915 -

During his Fourth of July keynote address at Boston's Faneuil Hall in 1915, future Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis announced the first Americanization Day. It was an effort to celebrate immigration rather than restrict it, as many Americans wished to do. The holiday would unify the new and old America. However, it didn't stick.

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Guidelines for flag etiquette -

Guidelines for flag etiquette, including rules for the Fourth of July, can be found in the US Flag Code.

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There are a lot of fireworks -

There are approximately 16,000 Independence Day fireworks displays that take place each year.

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Hospitals have an influx of patients as a result of fireworks-related mishaps -

About 15,600 people were hospitalized with fireworks-related injuries in 2020. Anyone planning to use fireworks at home should be sure to learn proper safety protocols.

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A Fourth of July firecracker started the Great Fire of Portland -

During the first Independence Day following the end of the Civil War, a celebratory firecracker reportedly started the Great Fire of 1866 in Portland, Maine. It destroyed around 1,800 buildings, leaving 10,000 people homeless.

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It's a tradition in New England to eat salmon -

Eating salmon and peas on Independence Day is a New England practice that dates back centuries. During the middle of the summer, salmon was abundant in rivers throughout the region, so it was a common sight on tables. Today, it has become a staple of the American holiday for many people.

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Americans spend billions on food to celebrate the Fourth of July -

For 2023, the National Retail Federation predicted Americans spending around US$9.5 billion on tasty treats to celebrate the Fourth of July.

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The White House didn't have a Fourth of July party until 1801 -

Surprisingly, the White House only hosted its first official Independence Day party in 1801. President Thomas Jefferson was in office at the time.

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Open businesses were once deemed unpatriotic -

Prior to the Civil War, it was deemed unpatriotic for business owners to keep their establishments open on July 4.

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A time capsule was buried beneath the Massachusetts State House in 1795 -

On the 20th anniversary of Independence Day, Founding Fathers Paul Revere and Samuel Adams buried a copper time capsule beneath the Massachusetts State House in Boston. Unburied in 2014, it contained newspapers, coins, a silver plate, and a copper medal engraved with George Washington's image.

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The national anthem wasn't 'The Star-Spangled Banner' until 1931 -

It's hard to get through an entire Fourth of July parade without hearing the national anthem. But it actually took 117 years for the words written in 1814 by Francis Key Scott to gain federal recognition and become the official anthem.

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It took some time for it to become a paid holiday -

In 1941, the Fourth of July finally became a paid holiday for federal employees.

Sources: (Mental Floss) 

See also: Historical documents that changed the world

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