Facts about the Fourth

Times and Democract ^ | 05-Jul-2005 | RICHARD WALKER,

[stainlessbanner]

Most are aware the Fourth of July is a holiday that celebrates the birth of the United States.

However, some may not be aware of the history behind the holiday we now celebrate with fireworks and festivities.

Interesting facts and anecdotes about the 4th of July:

* The Fourth of July is the date the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress.

* The Declaration of Independence is descended from the Magna Carta of 1215, a document establishing the rights of English barons under King John.

* It is believed that when colonists began arriving on the North American shores, they had with them copies of the Magna Carta.

* Although July 4 is celebrated as America's official split from Britain's rule and the beginning of the American Revolution, the original resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, great uncle of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, not on July 4, but on June 7, 1776.

* On June 11, 1776, the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia formed a committee with the express purpose of drafting a document that would formally sever ties with England.

* The document was crafted by Thomas Jefferson, who may have been selected because of his eloquent writing style.

* A total of 86 changes were made to Jefferson's original draft before the final version was adopted by the Second Continental Congress.

* The Pennsylvania Evening Post printed the document on July 6, 1776, becoming the first newspaper to do so.

*Even though the Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, no one actually signed the document on that date.

*Some of the Congressional delegates weren't even present when the resolution was passed. New York, for example, did not even vote on the resolution until July 9.

* Another interesting fact is that it would be months before most of the signatures were applied to the document. Oddly, Thomas McKean did not sign the Declaration until five years later.

n Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870, and in 1938 reaffirmed it as a holiday, but with full pay for federal employees.

* 30: Number of places nationwide with "liberty" in their name. The most populous one is Liberty, Mo. (27,982). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

* 150 million: Number of hot dogs (all varieties) expected to be consumed by Americans on the Fourth. (That's one frankfurter for every two people).

* $164.2 million: The value of fireworks imported from China in 2004.

* 463,000: Number of people who became naturalized U.S. citizens during fiscal year 2003. Mexico contributed the highest number of naturalized citizens in 2003 (56,100).

[Californiajones]

Well let's not forget that God obviously recognizes the Fourth.

Because -- as Lincoln noted in his July 9th 1863 extemporaneous speech from the White House -- God showed His hand was upon the nation with the extraordinary, statistic breaking event that both Jefferson and Adams the prime mover and prime propagator of the Declaration both died on the 4th of July in its Jubilee year -- 1826 -- fifty years to the minute. And Lincoln was referencing this because the battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg had been won on the 3rd and 4th of July and old Abe was trying to see his way through the haze of war to see God's provenance.

Lincoln was comforted by the non-coincidence of the deaths of Adams and Jefferson, the only two signers of the Declaration who also became president -- dying on this hallowed day. (And its Jubilee year at that!)

Interesting that Lincoln himself was shot on Good Friday and set out for burial on Easter Sunday. He would not have expected the honor!