Hello all, I hope you are having a lovely fourth of July weekend! This is one of my favorite holidays, and I figured that I could combine my love of facts with this holiday. Each paragraph will be like a firecracker, in hopes, something that is short but gives a big bang. What I mean is that it’s a quick read that will give you some sort of knowledge, I hope you all enjoy it!
Alright, let us start with the actual day of America’s independence. While the United States gained independence formally on July 4th, not everybody was available to sign it until August. Put yourself in the signers’ place. You’re John Hancock, notoriously known for signing things big, you realize that you have to be in Philadelphia for the Continental Congress. What do you do? You can’t fly or catch a train because those conveniences were not conveniently created yet. Realistically, each signer either walked, rode a horse, rode a carriage, or sailed. This is why several signers arrived later than usual.
On a more somber note, three presidents passed away on the 4th. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Monroe all died on the Fourth of July. Coincidentally, Jefferson and Adams who were lifelong rivals and great friends both died in 1826. Jefferson’s famous last words were: “Is it the Fourth yet?”. John Adams firmly believed that America’s independence should be celebrated on July 2nd rather than the 4th. His reason for this was not because of signing the Declaration of Independence, but when the Continental Congress declared independence. To quote Michael Scott, “I didn’t say it, I declared it.” Whenever he was invited to an Independence Day shindig, he denied the invitation because he firmly believed that it still should be July 2nd. One last presidential death was that of Zachary Taylor, he ate a piece of spoiled fruit at a July 4th celebration which caused his death on July 9th, 1850. Be sure to eat responsibly today. On a lighter note, President Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4th, 1872.
Aside from traveling long distances, the deaths of presidents, and the birth of one president, many people celebrate the Fourth of July differently. Americans celebrated this day since 1776, but it was not nationally recognized as a federal holiday until 1870. Massachusetts was the first to declare it a state holiday in 1778. Most New England states, like Massachusetts, do not celebrate the 4th with a cookout of hot dogs and burgers, but rather with salmon. Also in 1778, George Washington celebrated independence while on the field with his soldiers during the American Revolution by rationing them extra rum.
No matter how you spend your weekend, always remember that these men put God and their families first. Please be safe and don’t end up like Footballer Jason Pierre-Paul and lose fingers while lighting fireworks.
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