7 Fun Facts: Declaration of Independence

1. It wasn't actually July 4

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it.

2. John Adams thought July 2 would be remembered

John Adams had written to his wife Abigail: "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival..."

3. The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell sounded from the tower of Independence Hall on July 8, 1776, summoning citizens to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.

4. The The last signing was 6 months later

Thomas McKean was the last to sign the Declaration of Independence in January, 1777.

5. Where did the word Patriotism come from

The word "patriotism" comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or "fatherland".

6. Jefferson and Adams died 50 years later

Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826, 50 years after the first Independence Day.

7. When did it become an official holiday?

In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday.

Quiz

Test your knowledge of U.S. History and the Declaration of Independence by taking the Declaration of Independence Quiz at constitutionfacts.com

(Information provided by allproudamericans.com)