Seven Fun Facts about the Fourth of July
Great Britain’s King George, lll imposed taxes on the then 13 colonies while alienating and denying their rights as Englishmen. Meaning the colonies had no say and no representation, “No taxation without representation” Here are Seven Fun Facts about the Fourth of July history.
We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence from Britain and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. But July 4, 1776 wasn’t the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776. The “Declaration” was published in papers on July 4.
Halifax County, North Carolina April 12, 1776. After the Moores Creek Bridge victory, the Fourth North Carolina Provincial Congress met in Halifax. Members unanimously adopted the Halifax Resolves. The Resolves ordered North Carolina’s delegation to the second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, not only to form foreign alliances, but to seek and vote for independence from Great Britain. In doing so, this action made North Carolina the first of the colonial governments to call for total independence. This action became a leading factor to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
Only two politicians signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Charles Thomson, Irish-born politician leader from Philadelphia and the infamous American born politician leader John Hancock were the only two men who actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The other 54 delegates signed over the course of the next month.
Richard Stockton, a lawyer and continental congressmen from New Jersey, became the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to recant his support of the revolution after being captured by the British in the middle of the night. Stockton received harsh treatment while imprisoned. GeneralW. Howe- Commander-in-Chief of British land forces had written a proclamation offering protection papers and a full and free pardon to those willing to remain in peaceable obedience to the king, it took some time but eventually Stockton took the pardon. After his release Stockton came to find that all of his property had been destroyed or stolen by the British. His library, one of the finest in the colonies at the time, had been burned to the ground.
The 50- Star flag that we know today was designed by a man in Lancaster, Ohio. In 1958, A then 17-year old Robert G. Heft was assigned an American history project to redesign the national flag as Alaska and Hawaii neared statehood while attending Lancaster High School in Ohio. Using the old 48-star flag and $2.87 worth of blue cloth and white iron-on material he designed the flag we know today. After turning in his design for the assignment it earned him a B- minus. Not satisfied with the grade he sent it to Washington D.C to be considered. According to his obituary, Robert G. Heft was one of thousands to submit a flag design but he was only person who actually stitched together a flag and shipped it to D.C. Once his flag was selected, Hefts history teacher changed his grade to an A. His design officially became the flag 50-Star flag in 1960.
July 4, 1826 two prominent Presidents, Johns Adams, 90 and Thomas Jefferson, 83 took their final breaths within five hours of each other on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
It wasn’t until the year 1870 when Congress first declared July Fourth to be considered a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, including Christmas.
This July Fourth may we continue to celebrate Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, Happy Fourth everyone.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE—17761
Sources: https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/fourth-of-july/
https://www.ncpedia.org/history/usrevolution/halifax-resolves
https://www.nps.gov/mocr/halifax-resolves.htm
https://blog.hocking.edu/15-fun-facts-about-the-fourth-of-july
https://www.history.com/news/july-4-two-presidents-died-same-day-coincidence
