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Wow your guests with our 4th of July trivia at your yearly backyard barbeque !
Fireworks , food , and family : A merry 4th of July celebration is a sure sign thatsummer has arrive , but the holiday is n’t just about hot dogs and sparklers . This season , coppice up on the history of the 4th of July , then celebrate the 24-hour interval by recreate our 4th of July trivia plot with your Friend and fellowship . It ’s easy to download and print . Or commit it to admirer and see who cognise the most about this iconic American holiday .
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The Declaration of Independence Wasn’t Actually Signed in July
On July 4 , 1776 , Congress formally dramatize the Declaration of Independence , but it was n’t signed until almost a calendar month by and by . When the declaration was formally approved on July 4 , John Hancock and Charles Thompson ( president and secretaire of the Continental Congress ) sign the draught . But the official copy was n’t signed by all 56 signers until August 2 , 1776 .
Fireworks Were John Adams' Idea
When John Adams write that letter predicting an annualFourth of Julycelebration , he specifically mentioned one iconic tradition : Fireworks . He noted that the holiday would be keep " with illumination from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward , forevermore . " And judging by the number of fireworks purchased each year ( more below ) , it seems he was right .
Americans Spend $1 Billion on Fireworks Each July
fit in to the American Pyrotechnics Association , Americans spent $ 2.3 billion on pyrotechnic in 2022 , including professional shows and backyard bottle rockets and sparklers . The APA count on that dollar amount append up to about 500 million pounds of fireworks sold each year .
George Washington Celebrated the Holiday with Rum
While many of us enjoya crimson , white , and blue cocktailon the Fourth of July , George Washington may have been the first to begin the custom . On the second day of remembrance of the first Fourth of July , America was still press for independence in the Revolutionary War . George Washington ordered a two-fold ration of rummy for his soldiers ( along with an artillery military greeting ) to fete the holiday on July 4 , 1778 .
The First American Flag Only Had 13 Stars
The United States flag did n’t always have 50 principal . In fact , the original flag only had 13 — which represent the 13 original colonies . The gamy square with the stars is mention to as ' the union ' on the flag and shouldalways be displayedat the peak of the flagstaff or on the uppermost right side if hung on a rampart . If you do n’t have one already , purchase an American Flag to exhibit for the holiday .
Americans Eat 155 Million Hot Dogs Each Fourth of July
A delicious Fourth of July trivia fact , harmonise to Forbes , is that 150 millionhot dogsare consumed each Independence Day , determine Americans back $ 104.7 million for the dogs and another $ 70.4 million for the buns . If you’regrilling hot dogsthis Fourth of July , try one of theseeight delicious combinations of topping .
The First Fourth of July Was Celebrated in 1777
When the Declaration of Independence was finalized in July of 1776 , succeeding chairman John Adams write a letter of the alphabet to his married woman Abigail , say he expect the particular date to become an one-year celebration in America — and he was right . In 1777 , the firstFourth of July was celebratedwith firework and parades .
One President was Born on July 4
Calvin Coolidge was the first ( and so far , the only ) prexy born on the Fourth of July . He wasborn onJuly 4 , 1872 , in Plymouth , Vermont , and go on to become President of the United States in 1923 .
Three Presidents Have Died on July 4
While only one president was carry on Independence Day , three have died on the vacation . An interesting and coinciding spot of Fourth of July trivium is Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both kick the bucket on the same July 4 . Adams and Jefferson died in 1826 , on the fiftieth anniversary of the Fourth of July . President James Monroe died 5 eld by and by 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 idiomatic expression ' put your John Hancock here ' originates ) . Although he was president of the Continental Congress , John Hancock never became chairman of the United States .
Apple Pie Is Considered the Most American Dessert
When the settler first came to America , they seek ways to outdistance themselves from Britain . They ditch their traditionalscones and cakesand learned how to make aflaky pastry dough crustfrom Dutch immigrants who had also get to America . Since orchard apple tree were easy to come by , they filled the pastries withapple slice , and the custom of apple Proto-Indo European ( and independence ) was born . This Fourth of July , help the classical dessert in a blue or red pie dish for an extra patriotic touch .
The Fourth of July Wasn’t a Federal Holiday Until 1870
Although the holiday has been celebrated each year since 1776 , it was n’t until after the War of 1812 ( when the United States face Great Britain again and loyal sentiment were at an all - time mellow ) that the Fourth of July became an even larger solemnization . Because of this , Congress declare it an prescribed holiday in 1870 and in 1941 , made the 24-hour interval a paid vacation for all federal employees .
The White House Held Its First Fourth of July Party in 1801
President Thomas Jefferson adjudge the White House ’s first Fourth of July celebration in 1801 , beginning an annual tradition that was limited to those who could be there in person . Now , each Fourth of July , a televised concert and firework show is presented from the National Mall in Washington D.C. for all Americans to love , no matter where they live .
Massachusetts Was the First State to Declare July 4 an Official Holiday
Although the vacation was n’t made an prescribed national holiday until 1870 , the state of Massachusetts has recognized the vacation since 1781 . Several months before America won the Revolutionary War , Massachusetts declared the Fourth of July an official state holiday .
‘The Star Spangled Banner’ Didn’t Become the National Anthem for More Than 100 Years
Francis Scott Key wroteThe Star Spangled Banneron September 14 , 1814 , as he watched British troops take over Fort McHenry during the warfare of 1812 — but the Song dynasty did n’t become the internal hymn until more than a hundred years after in 1931 . Now , it ’s custom for the national hymn to be played before all Fourth of July display and celebrations .
There Are Only 2.5 Million Original United States Citizens
Today , the United States has a universe of more than 336 million , but on July 4 , 1776 , only 2.5 million people lived in this country . That means the population has grown by 13,200 % since the first Independence Day .
Frequently Asked Questions
For most Union employees , you will still get a day off even if quaternary of July decrease on a weekend . If the vacation falls on Saturday , for case , the discovered holiday would be on Friday .
Although the 4th of July normally entail a longsighted weekend , that is n’t always the vitrine . If it falls on a Tuesday , Wednesday , or Thursday , you ’ll get a one - day faulting instead .
Americans wanted to rule themselves and make their own laws . " No taxation without representation " is a plebeian slogan associated with the American Revolution , which led to the creation of the Declaration of Independence .
U.S. Fireworks Industry Revenue Figures .
In depth : Fourth of July by the numbers . ( 2010 , June 29 ) . Forbes .
