Stars, stripes, and surprises
The truth about the 4th of July: A secret on the back of the Declaration?
The 4th of July is all about fireworks, parades, and patriotic pride, and for good reason! It marks the birth of our nation's independence. But the way to that historic day wasn't easy. It was full of challenges, quirks, and a few surprising twists. Did you know some Founding Fathers wanted to celebrate Independence on July 2nd? Or that there's actually something written on the back of the Declaration? Get ready to discover 10 fun and little-known facts about the 4th of July that might surprise you!
Image: Paul Weaver
1
July 2nd
In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams predicted that July 2nd would go down in history. Why? Well, because that's the day in 1776 when the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Great Britain. But while the vote happened on the 2nd, the Declaration of Independence wasn't officially signed until the 4th, so that's the date we celebrate!
Image: Joe deSousa
2
Secret signers
The signing of the Declaration of Independence wasn't as simple as it might seem. In fact, signatures were added over time, from July to August. In addition, the names of the signers were kept secret from the public for six months! Why? Because if the fight for independence had failed, those who signed the document would have been labeled traitors, and under British law, that meant a punishment of death.
Image: Pierre Bamin
3
Washington invites
In the middle of the Revolutionary War, 1778 marked the second anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington wasn't about to let the anniversary go unnoticed, so he ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers to celebrate the holiday. Cheers!
Image: phil cruz
4
Something written on the back
There's actually something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence. This handwritten note appears upside down at the bottom of the back of the parchment, and it reads: "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776." Just like we label the files we save on our computers today, it's believed they added the note to help identify the original document from other copies.
Image: Anne Nygård
5
We are many more now
Many courageous people did everything they could to make the Independence dream a reality and help the nation grow. And it did grow! While there's no exact official data from that time, the US Census Bureau estimates that about 2.5 million people lived in America in 1776. By the most recent census in 2020, that number had grown to about 332 million!
Image: Rob Curran
6
John Adams' idea
It's hard to imagine the 4th of July without the classic barbecues, parades, and -of course- fireworks lighting up the sky. But even though these traditions are now a staple, there was a first time for all of them. It's said that John Adams himself, in that letter to his wife Abigail, suggested using fireworks and illuminations to celebrate this important day.
Image: Jingda Chen
7
Busy hospitals
While fireworks are beautiful and help raise patriotic spirit during Independence Day celebrations, it's also true that they can sometimes be dangerous. In fact, it's been reported that hospitals see more patients than usual on July 4th due to fireworks-related injuries.
Image: camilo jimenez
8
Thomas Jefferson's laptop
Of course, laptops didn't exist at the time of the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence, but that's a fun way to describe the lap desk Thomas Jefferson used to write it. That's right: The father of the Declaration of Independence didn't need a grand marble desk or anything fancy to put his ideas into words.
Image: Alicia Razuri
9
Surprising coincidences
The 4th of July isn't just the day America officially declared its independence; it also holds some incredible historical coincidences. On Independence Day in 1826, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died, exactly 50 years after the birth of the nation they helped create. Five years later, in 1831, James Monroe became the third president to die on the 4th of July.
But it's not all about endings: President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4th of July, 1872, making him the only US president born on Independence Day.
Image: Thomas Park
10
Millions of hot dogs
It's clear we Americans love hot dogs, and for good reason! This iconic food is closely tied to one of the most important days in our nation's history. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yes, that's a real thing), Americans typically eat around 150 million hot dogs on Independence Day alone. 150 million!
Image: Ball Park Brand
