4 Intriguing Fourth Of July Facts
It’s been 238 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.
It’s a day we take for granted as a day of fun and fireworks, but let’s not forget why it was such an important day.
From Wikipedia
4 Facts About the 4th of July
Here are four intriguing facts for you to consider on this special day.
1. The signers were relatively young.
The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence was 45.
The youngest was Thomas Lynch, Jr (27) of South Carolina.
The oldest delegate was Benjamin Franklin (70) of Pennsylvania.
The lead author of The Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, was 33.
2. It took amazing courage to sign that document.
After signing the Declaration, John Hancock remarked that Congress must now “all hang together”. Benjamin Franklin replied, “Yes, we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
3. John Adams would say that we’re celebrating the wrong day.
Adams wrote that July 2, the date the Second Continental Congress voted in Philadelphia to declare independence from Britain, not July 4, would be the day patriots celebrated their freedom. “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America,” Adams wrote on July 3. “It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
4. Two future presidents signed it.
The two future presidents who signed it were John Adams (second President) and Thomas Jefferson (third President).
Both died on the 50th anniversary of signing the Declaration (July 4, 1826). There are 12 counties nationwide named Adams and 26 named Jefferson.
Source: InterviewAngel.com, IBTimes.com, & Census.gov
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