Although it was initially adopted as a state holiday, it was not until July 4, 1941, that a federal holiday was declared.
4. The Philadelphia Liberty Bell is knocked 13 times every July 4 in honor of the original 13 colonies.
Liberty Bell clearly states its purpose with an inscription that reads “Declare independence to all its inhabitants throughout the land.” As a result, it stands as a symbol of independence for civil rights champion parties. Learn more about Liberty Bell by watching this read-aloud video.
5. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826.
This is one of the most ridiculous events of July 4th. Both of these two famous signatories to the Declaration of Independence died on its 50th anniversary. James Monroe, the fifth U.S. president, died on July 4, 1831 Watch this funny video of the animated versions of Adams and Jefferson fighting in the July 3 Trivia game.
6. Calvin Coolidge is the only president who was born on July 4th.
Coolidge served as governor and vice president of Massachusetts before being elected president in 1923. Watch this video to learn more about the 30th President of the United States.
7. Americans spend more than 1 billion annually on fireworks.
Although large, that number includes both private and public purchases. This funny video explains how fireworks work!
8. tHe became the star spangled banner national anthem of the United States in 1931.
The lyric was written by Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814. Listen to the full song here while reading the lyrics.
9. Bristol, Rhode Island, was the site of the first July 4, 1785 parade.
Today, Bristol hosts an annual celebration that begins on Flag Day and begins with a parade on July 4th.
10. Connie Island, New York, hosts a famous, hot-dog eating contest on the 4th of July every year.
Multiple champion Joey Chestnut holds the record for eating hot dogs in 76 hot dogs in just 10 minutes! For more information on the history of this long-standing tradition, watch this video.
11. The Philippines also celebrated their independence on 4 July.
After falling to Japanese control during World War II, US and Filipino forces fought together to regain control. They gained their independence on July 4, 1946. Watch this video to learn more about Republic Day in the Philippines.
12. George Washington celebrated the July 4 holiday with a double ration of rum to his troops.
Despite having a daily ration, soldiers often spend their days without food. Read more about army rations during the Revolutionary War here.
13. Guidelines for flag etiquette, including the July 4 rules, can be found in the U.S. Flag Code.
If you are looking for information about flag etiquette July 4, here is one to share. Congress passed a joint resolution on June 22, 1942, to establish Us Flag code. Read more about flag etiquette here.
14. Our neighbors in the north celebrate Canada Day just three days before our Independence Day celebrations.
Canadians celebrate the anniversary of the Constitution Act on July 1st. The law annexed the three territories in 1867, making Canada a single nation. Check out more explanations in this video about Canada and Canada Day for these cute kids.
15. Edward Routledge was the youngest person to sign the Declaration of Independence at the age of 26, while Benjamin Franklin was the oldest at the age of 70.
When people think of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence, they probably think of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. However, there were a total of 56 signatories. Follow this link to see the complete list by state.
16. There are currently more than 314 million people living in the United States, but in 1776 there were only 2.5 million.
Each year, the Census Bureau uses birth, death, and immigration data to calculate the U.S. population. Watch this video to explain how the census is calculated and why it is important.
17. Every 4th July the hospital is crowded with patients as a result of fireworks-related accidents.
In 2020, about 16,000 people were hospitalized with fireworks-related injuries. Anyone planning to use fireworks at home must learn proper safety protocols in advance.
18. July 6, 1776 Pennsylvania Evening Post Became the first newspaper to publish the Declaration of Independence.
Published by Benjamin Town, Pennsylvania Evening Post Was the first daily newspaper in the United States. Follow this link to see the front page of this newspaper from July 6, 1776.
19. Before the Civil War, it was considered patriotic for business owners to keep their establishments open on 4 July.
Since then, it has become more acceptable for businesses to be open on holidays. Many businesses even run special sales to commemorate the day.
20. There are 27 versions of the US flag.
The main flag has 13 stars and stripes for 13 colonies. Today’s version of the flag comes after adding a 50th star in 1960 to represent Hawaii.
21. At least 30 places in the United States have the word “freedom” in their name.
Florida, Georgia, Montana and Texas each have a Liberty County. The largest city is Liberty, Missouri, with a population of 29,000. Follow this link for a map of all Liberty locations in the United States
22. Americans eat an estimated 150 million hot dogs every July 4th.
Independence Day hot dogs will travel more than five times from DC to LA! Learn more fun hot dog information here.
23. Not all Americans gained independence on July 4th.
The enslaved black people of America did not get their freedom until June 19, 1865. Watch this video to learn more about Juntinth. Also, check out these activities to teach kids about Juntinth.
24. Barack Obama’s eldest daughter Malia Obama was born on July 4, 1998.
As a result of their achievements, Malia and her younger sister Sasha were named the two most influential teenagers of 2014. Time Magazine Today, Malia works as the author of a new Netflix series
25. John Hancock was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776.
No one has a more recognizable signature than John Hancock. Hancock served as president of the Second Continental Congress in 1776. Watch this video to learn more about the life of this famous founding father.