A Few Interesting Facts About Independence Day!

Independence Day is a day we celebrate with family, friends, fireworks, parades, food and more. It’s a day to remember our freedom and to remember those who fought for that freedom and those who continue to fight for it. Independence Day is a big deal in America, as it should be.
This year we are celebrating 250 years of independence and provides an opportunity to remember a little about out contry’s history.
If you are not a history buff there are many interesting facts about our Independence Day you might find to be interesting.
For instance, did you know that Independence Day was once celebrated on July 5th?
It actually was by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. During the Revolutionary War, the two men worked together in Paris to obtain French support for the American cause, sometimes clashing on how best to do so. And they successfully negotiated peace with Great Britain. So, being across the Atlantic the Ambassadors held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France. In 1779, July 4th fell on a Sunday. As a result, the holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5th.
Adams knew how memorable Independence Day would be in America and even wrote his wife a letter predicting how the day might be celebrated. In his letter he wrote, “The day should be celebrated with parades, bonfires and fireworks.” He also thought that independence was being celebrated on the wrong day. In fact, he was known to turn down invitations to 4th of July celebrations in protest. In his correspondence to his wife, Abigail Adams, he only referred to Independence Day as July 2nd.
Our Declaration of Independence was developed by a drafting committee that consisted of Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson. While all the men participated, Jefferson was the main author of the Declaration of Independence.
Having said that, Jefferson was not the first person to sign the document. Mostly likely, because he was President of the Congress at the time, John Hancock was the first person to sign the document in a large hand at the center, you can look this up through the National Archives. That bold signature is believed to have started the phrase, “Sign your John Hancock.”
If you researched history, one might question if Independence Day should really be celebrated on July 2nd. That is because even though the document was dated July 4, Congress actually voted for independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776. Or should it be celebrated on August 2 or maybe even later.
The last signature was placed on the document on that date. Thomas McKean of Delaware was the last person to sign the document and some believe that could have been as late as 1777. The date remains a question because some copies of the declaration do not have McKean’s name on them.
As a newspaper person, this is kind of important to me personally. The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the Declaration. The document was printed in the newspaper on July 6, 1776 after a local printer, John Dunlap, produced copies of the declaration’s manuscript.
America has grown a little since July 2, 1776. It was estimated that the population of the United States in July 1776 was about 2.5 million. According to the US Census Bureau, the projected population at the end of 2025 was between 341.8 million and 348 million.
I’m going to end this little history lesson on kind of a sad note. It is hard to believe, but three presidents who signed the Declaration of Independence died on July 4th.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both passed away on July 4, 1826. That was the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence. James Monroe passed away five years lated on July 4, 1831.
There were 56 representatives who signed the declaration and the eventual presidents who signed were Adams and Jefferson.
While all of this may be boring, it is important to remember how our Independence was gained and remember that freedom comes with a price tag. While my rambling might be boring, just remember, one day when playing trivia you may be asked about July 5. LOL!
Seriously though, with the 250th birthday of our nation looming, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the things that makes our country great and consider what we can do, as a people, to make things even better.
It’s also a time to celebrate and I wish each of you a wonderful and safe holiday.