Happy birthday, America!!
Here are some facts for you:
- The Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776.
- The Declaration of Independence did not become official until August 2, 1776.
- The estimated population of the colonies on July 4, 1776 was 2.5 million.
- Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on July 4. (Adams and Jefferson both died in 1826.)
- The 4th of July became a unpaid federal holiday on June 28, 1870. It became a paid federal holiday in 1938.
- The colors of the American flag: Red stands for hardiness and valor. White symbolizes purity and innocence. Blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
- Benjamin Franklin, who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest of the signers (age 70) of the Declaration of Independence.
- Robert Livingston, who represented New York, was on the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence but was recalled by his state before he could sign it. (I am related to this guy!!!)
You are related to Robert Livingston!
Thanks for the interesting facts. Hope your 4th was great!
Thanks for the interesting facts! Hope you had a fabulous 4th!
I had forgotten some of those facts. That’s so cool that you’re related to Robert Livingston. I had a (many times great) grandfather that was very good friends with Benjamin Franklin, and because of their friendship my grandfather was a signer of the Constitution. 🙂 His name was Thomas Fitzsimmons. Have you ever seen the movie/musical 1776? It’s a favorite of ours and we watch it every 4th of July.
That’s so cool!! I haven’t seen it, but I’m going to look it up now! 😀
Very cool facts. I didn’t even realize some of them (although, I’m terrible at all things history related).
great info! I didn’t know a lot of that – I didn’t know there were 2.5 million people in the US in 1776!
I knew that 2 presidents died on July 4th, but didn’t know about the third- and I didn’t know that 2 of them died in the same year! That’s so weird.
I love historical facts! I had no idea so many important figures in history have died on July 4.
I love the top picture and those are some interesting facts! Happy July 4th to you as well!
So strange that so many of the signers died on July 4th!
That’s so bizarre that three of the signers died on the July 4th. Such a oddly appropriate ending.
Happy fourth to you too! Hoping for more sun the rest of summer!!!
I didn’t know all these facts – really interesting. Hope you had a great 4th with your family!