Things To Know About Independence Day

July 4 is a day where we celebrate the United States and our freedoms. People dress up in red, white and blue to get in the spirit of the holiday. There are spectacular fireworks celebrations all over the country at night, causing everyone to stop their parties to watch the colorful lights. Some people go to local parks to watch, while others light them off at their houses and put on their own show. Here are 15 weird and interesting facts about Independence Day:

15 Interesting Facts

1. Did you know July 4th was not the day we declared our independence from the British monarchy? The official vote was two days prior on the second of July. The declaration was published in the newspapers on July 4, thus making the people remember the fourth of July and not the second.
2. The Declaration of Independence was not fully signed on the Fourth of July like the famous painting shows. It took a month to get all 56 delegates together to sign the document. There were two people who actually signed the document on July 4: John Hancock and Charles Thompson.
3. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on the Fourth of July in 1826, only five hours apart.
4. Have you ever heard the phrase “as American as apple pie”? This dessert was not actually created in America. Apples aren’t native to American soil; they were brought over by early European settlers who brought fruit, and the original pie recipe with them.
5. The Declaration of Independence was actually created on a laptop. They did have laptops in 1826. However, this was not a computer, but a writing desk that could fit on your lap.
6. The iconic story of the little blonde haired boy waiting for the signal to ring the liberty bell actually never happened. This story was created for a children’s book in the middle of the 19th century. The Liberty Bell did not actually ring that day at all.
7. As for the famous crack in the Liberty Bell, it was not because it rang too much, it cracked because it was poorly designed.
8. When the Constitution was signed, the bell was not known as the Liberty Bell. It got its name in the 1830s by abolitionists when the bell became a symbol of freedom from slavery.
9. Everyone knows the patriotic song “Yankee Doodle.” This song was actually first sung by British military officers before the Revolution, to tease the unorganized American colonists who fought with them during the French and Indian Wars.
10. The stars on the first American Flag were in a circle so all the Colonies would appear equal.
11. We celebrate Independence Day with the American Flag. Even though the founders didn’t think having a flag was all that important. The reason they eventually decided to have a uniformed flag was so that the United States ships could easily be identified when arriving in foreign ports. The Continental Army did not fight under this flag.
12. In 2016, the United States imported 5.4 million American flags.
13. The National Anthem tune was originally an English drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven.”
14. In 1776 there were 2.5 million people living in the United States; in 2017 there are 326,474,013.
15. In 1998, Congress passed a bill that declared the 21 days between Flag Day and Independence Day “Honor America Days.”

Help Those Who Served

This Independence Day help the ones who keep our freedoms alive by donating a car to Vehicles For Veterans. By donating your unwanted car, boat, RV or motorcycle to Vehicles For Veterans you help disabled and other veterans charities. Vehicles For Veterans is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is fully tax deductible! We will pick up and tow away your vehicle for free.

Take advantage of this great opportunity by either calling 1-855-811-4838 or filling out our online donation form. Donate today!