The 4th of July is here, and it’s time to celebrate! Bring out that grill and get ready for a crazy independence day cookout! To help you get in the celebratory spirit, here 25 4th of July fun facts that you can share at your BBQ celebration. You'll impress everyone AND you'll learn a little bit more about America, the beautiful!
Only two men signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776 -- John Hancock and Charles Thompson.
Thomas Jefferson changed the original wording of the Declaration of Independence from "the pursuit of property" to "the pursuit of happiness."
Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on a 1700s version of a "laptop" -- a mobile writing desk that could fit on your lap!
It is widely believed that July 2nd is the real day of American Independence, but it's celebrated on the fourth because that's when congress accepted Jefferson's declaration.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826.
Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration of Independence was lost.
The copy that was eventually signed signed is the "engrossed" document.
The printed version of the Declaration was called the "Dunlap Broadside". 200 copies were printed but only 27 are accounted for.
Congress declared July 4th as an official holiday in 1870 as part of a bill to officially recognize other holidays.
The Declaration of Independence was a justification for a revolt against the British which included a list of charges against the British king.
Several countries have used the Declaration of Independence in their own struggles for freedom (France, Greece, Poland, Russia, and many countries in South America).
"Yankee Doodle" was originally sung prior to the Revolution by British military officers in mockery of the unorganized and buckskin-wearing “Yankees.”
The "Star Spangled Banner" was written by Francis Scott Key and was originally a poem stemming from his observations in 1814 concerning the British attack on Baltimore's Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.
It was later put to music, though not decreed the official national anthem until 1931.
In addition to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe is the third president to have died on July 4th.
America's 30th President, Calvin Coolidge, was born on July 4, 1872.
In 1776, only about 2.5 million people lived in the United States.
The average age of those who signed the Declaration of Independence was 45. The youngest at age 27, was Thomas Lynch, Jr. The oldest delegate was Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania at age 70. Thomas Jefferson was 33.
1 out of 8 signers were educated at Harvard (7 total).
87.5 percent ($2.8 million) of imported U.S. flags are from China.
97 percent ($190.7 million) of imported fireworks are from China.
An estimated 150 million hot dogs will be consumed on July 4th.
Both the Philippines and Rwanda celebrate July 4th as a day of liberation.
The White House held its first 4th of July party in 1801.
The tune of the National Anthem was originally used by an English drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven."
In 1954, the words ‘under God’ were added to the Pledge of Allegiance.
The oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States is the 4th of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island; it began in 1785.