The Declaration of Independence Wasn’t Signed in July
On July 4, 1776, Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence, but it actually wasn’t signed until almost a month later. When the declaration was officially approved on July 4, John Hancock and Charles Thompson (president and secretary of the Continental Congress) signed the draft that day. The official copy signed by all 56 signees was August 2, 1776.
Fireworks Were John Adams’ Idea
John Adams wrote a letter predicting an annual Fourth of July celebration, calling out an an iconic tradition: Fireworks. He wrote that the holiday would be celebrated “with illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward, forevermore.” Judging by the number of fireworks purchased each year, his prediction was correct.
One President was Born on July 4
Calvin Coolidge was the first (and so far, the only) president to have been born on the Fourth of July. He was born on July 4, 1872, in Plymouth, Vermont, and went on to become president in 1923.
George Washington Celebrated the Holiday with Rum
While many of us enjoy a red, white, and blue cocktail on the July 4th, George Washington may have been the first to start the tradition. On the second anniversary of the first Fourth of July, America was still fighting for independence in the Revolutionary War. George Washington ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers (along with an artillery salute) to celebrate the holiday on July 4, 1778.
The First Fourth of July Was Celebrated in 1777
When the Declaration of Independence was finalized in July of 1776, future president John Adams wrote a letter to his wife Abigail, saying he expected the date to become an annual celebration in America—and he was right. In 1777, the first Fourth of July was celebrated with fireworks and parades.
Three Presidents Have Died on July 4 
While only one president has been born on Independence Day, three have died on the holiday. Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson actually died on the same day, on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Fourth of July. Later, President James Monroe died on July 4, 1831.
The First Person to Sign the Declaration of Independence Was Never President
John Hancock famously was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence (that’s where the phrase 'put your John Hancock here' originates), so many people falsely assume he became president at some point. Although he was president of the Continental Congress, John Hancock never became president of the United States.
Apple Pie Is Considered the Most American Dessert
When the colonists came to America, they were looking for ways to distance themselves from Britain. They ditched their scones and cakes and learned how to make a flaky pastry crust from Dutch immigrants. Apples were easy to come by, so they filled the pastries with apple slices and the tradition of apple pie (and independence) was born.
The Star Spangled Banner Didn't Become the National Anthem for More Than 100 Years
Francis Scott Key wrote The Star Spangled Banner on September 14, 1814, as he watched British troops take over fort Fort McHenry during the war of 1812—but the song didn't become the national anthem until more than a hundred years later in 1931.
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