by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: June 22, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2011

The Fourth of July is the day Americans celebrate independence from The British government with fireworks, hamburgers, hot dogs, beer, festivals, carnivals and parades. Most Americans can at least tell part of the story of Fourth of July. The signing of the Declaration of Independence marked the single most important event that would ever occur in America. Were it not for that event, the United States would not be the free country it is today.

Fun Facts about Independence Day

1. Massachusetts was the first legislature to recognize July 4th as a holiday in 1781. This set a precedent for the rest of the country. July 4th is now celebrated countrywide.

2. Salem, NC Moravians hosted the first July Fourth celebration in 1783 with a program entitled "The Psalm of Joy" which was led by Johann Friedrich Peter. This sparked every celebration in the country since that time. Those who attended the first Independence Day celebrations would be amazed at the type of celebrations Americans have today.

3. The first recorded use of the name "Independence Day" was in the year 1791.

4. It was not until 1870 that July 4th became an official Federal Holiday. It was also an unpaid holiday. Congress changed this in 1941 to a paid holiday. American employees greatly appreciate that they can celebrate and are paid for it at the same time.

5. The only person that signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th was John Hancock. The others began to sign it nearly a month later on August 2.

6. John Adams and Benjamin Franklin turned down an offer to write the Declaration of Independence because they felt that people would be bias about it if they were to write it. However, Benjamin Franklin did make many corrections to it before the final draft including the line "and the pursuit of happiness" in place of Thomas Jefferson's version that simply said "property".

7. The very first Independence Day celebration had fireworks in 1777. The idea has stuck over the years. People travelling American highways on this noted day will likely see fireworks in every direction. It is not a Fourth of July celebration without the wondrous sounds and sights of fireworks.

8. The Liberty Bell that hangs at Independence Hall in Philadelphia was not at all the Liberty Bell. It was cast years earlier; it took six months before they actually hung it and when they struck if for the first time, it cracked. Calling people together for meetings was the original intent of the bell. It was given the name "Liberty

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