Every year, barbecues, yard games, concerts, parades and fireworks displays are all traditions for Americans who celebrate the Fourth of July in the United States.
The day is celebrated to mark the birth of the country after becoming independent from Great Britain.
Here are some fun facts you may not know about the Fourth of July.
![Fourth of July Fireworks Explode in Celebration of Silhouette Spectators](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2021/06/640/320/iStock-496305991.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The first Fourth of July fireworks came in 1777. (iStock)
JULY 4TH QUIZ! HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR FACTS ABOUT INDEPENDENCE DAY?
- Independence was not declared on the 4th of July
- 26 original copies of the Declaration of Independence still exist
- George Washington’s reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 9, 1776, led to a riot in New York City, resulting in the destruction of a statue of King George III.
- After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and other documents were secretly kept at Fort Knox during World War II
- 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, but many of them were not famous
- The Fourth of July was not made a federal holiday until 1870
- The first Fourth of July fireworks were in 1777
- The oldest Fourth of July parade is in the smallest state
FOURTH OF JULY: MEDIA HISTORY OF BASHING AMERICA, SYMBOLS OF DEMOCRACY
1. Independence was not declared on July 4th
![Fourth of July in Boston](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/07/640/320/boston-4th.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The fourth of July is celebrated with parades, concerts, fireworks and more. (Nicholas Pfosi for The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
July 4, 1776, is significant because that was the day Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence document. However, the second Continental Congress actually voted for independence on July 2.
In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams predicted that future generations would celebrate July 2 as Independence Day, saying, “The second day of July, 1776, will be celebrated by future generations as the great anniversary celebration. solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forever. “
2. 26 original copies of the Declaration of Independence still exist
After the Declaration of Independence was adopted, the “Committee of Five,” consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston, was responsible for reproducing the approved text.
On July 5, Philadelphia printer John Dunlap sent all the copies he had made to newspapers throughout the 13 colonies, in addition to commanders of Continental troops and local politicians. Originally there were hundreds of copies known as “Dunlap broadsides,” but only 26 of these survive today and most are displayed in museum and library collections. One of the most recent discoveries of “Dunlap broadsides” was found by a Philadelphia man on the back of a picture frame bought at a flea market for $4 in 1989.
![Declaration of Independence](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/06/640/320/iStock-173150593.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. (iStock)
EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE PATRIOTIC FOURTH OF JULY
3. George Washington’s reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 9, 1776, led to a riot in New York City, resulting in the destruction of a statue of King George III
When one of the “Dunlap broadsides” arrived in New York City on July 9, 1776, George Washington, who was the Commander of the Continental forces in New York at the time, read the document to a crowd in front of city hall. Many of them got excited and destroyed a statue of King George III nearby. The statue was later melted down and used to make tens of thousands of musket balls for the American army.
4. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and other documents were secretly kept at Fort Knox during World War II
After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Secret Service Agent Harry Neal is tasked with moving “important historical documents” to a secure facility far from Washington, DC After meeting with librarian Archibald MacLeish at the Library of Congress, edited by Neal. the logistics of how they would carefully transport the documents out of DC to Fort Knox, which is near Louisville, Kentucky. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, the Gutenberg Bible and the Articles of Confederation are also stored in some of the cases at Fort Knox. The Declaration was returned to Washington, DC, in 1944.
5. 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, but many of them were not famous
Signers of the Declaration of Independence such as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson went on to dedicate their lives to public service and served as the second and third presidents of the United States, respectively. However, some of the signers are remembered only by history, such as Button Gwinnett of Georgia and Josiah Bartlett of New Hampshire, whose name was used with a slightly different spelling, as Martin Sheen’s presidential character in “West Wing.”
![Fireworks in Los Angeles Fourth of July](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/06/640/320/GettyImages-1241712194.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Various Fourth of July celebrations take place across the United States. (David McNew/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
6. The Fourth of July was not made a federal holiday until 1870
Although Fourth of July celebrations have occurred for many years, it was not made an unpaid federal holiday until 1870. It was not until 1941 that the holiday was added to the list of paid holidays for federal employee.
7. The first Fourth of July fireworks were in 1777
The first Fourth of July fireworks were started on July 4, 1777. On this day, fireworks were lit in Philadelphia and Boston. Over the years, the fireworks have become a popular Fourth of July tradition with displays across the country.
8. The oldest Fourth of July parade is in the smallest state
Bristol, Rhode Island, is home to the nation’s oldest Fourth of July parade. The first Bristol Fourth of July parade was in 1785.