As Americans adorn their lawns with flags and light up the sky with fireworks, the 4th of July stands as a significant date in U.S. history, marking the nation’s independence from British rule in 1776. However, there’s more to this red, white, and blue celebration than meets the eye. Here are five surprising facts about Independence Day that you might not know.
1. THE DECLARATION WASN’T SIGNED ON JULY 4TH
Though we celebrate American Independence Day on the 4th of July, the official vote actually took place two days earlier. On July 2nd, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Britain. John Adams wanted American independence celebrations to occur on July 2nd because of this important vote. Thomas Jefferson then drafted the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by Congress on July 4th. This is the date we now celebrate; however, most of the members didn’t sign the document until August 2nd, 1776. John Adams is famously to have declined invitations to July 4th celebrations throughout his life because he was annoyed it wasn’t being celebrated on July 2nd.
2. COINCIDENTAL PRESIDENTIAL DEATHS
July 4th has an eerie connection to the deaths of several U.S. Presidents. Remarkably, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, two signers of the Declaration of Independence and former Presidents, died on July 4th, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration’s adoption. To add to this peculiar coincidence, James Monroe, the fifth President, also passed away on July 4th, five years later in 1831.
3. FIRST CELEBRATIONS WEREN’T MUCH LIKE TODAY’S
The first anniversary of American independence in 1777 was celebrated with much less fanfare than the modern parades, fireworks, and barbecues we associate with the holiday today. Instead, colonists observed the day with solemn remembrances, church services, and speeches. Mock funerals for King George III were also a part of the celebrations for some colonists to reinforce America’s victory over the British Monarchy. The first state to make the 4th of July an official holiday was Massachusetts in 1781.
4. FIREWORKS HAVE BEEN A TRADITION SINCE 1777
One tradition that has endured since the earliest celebrations of Independence Day is the setting off of fireworks. On July 4, 1777, Philadelphia commemorated the one-year anniversary of the nation’s independence with a grand fireworks display, setting the trend for future celebrations. Today, Americans collectively spend hundreds of millions of dollars on fireworks for their 4th of July festivities.
5. NOT EVERYONE WAS HAPPY ABOUT INDEPENDENCE
While we regard the Declaration of Independence as a universal symbol of freedom today, it was not universally accepted at the time of its signing. Many colonists remained loyal to Britain, fearing the chaos and instability that could follow a complete break from the monarchy. These Loyalists, as they were known, preferred to seek a compromise with Britain rather than severing ties altogether.
📈😲Additional Facts
1781
This is when Massachusetts became the first state to make July 4th an official state holiday.
$6 Million
This is how much the 75,000 fireworks used in the Macy’s 4th of July Firework show cost.
$2.3 Billion
is how much Americans spend on Fireworks for the 4th of July celebrations.
