Community Corner

What Is The Fourth of July?

Some interesting facts about Independence Day, borrowed shamelessly and with gratitude from our Patch colleague David Mills.

It doesn't mark the end of an epic war or the surrender of an opponent.

The Fourth of July is simply the anniversary of a governing body approving a document.

It was on July 4th, 1776, that the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence.

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The relatively short proclamation announced to Great Britain that the American colonies wanted to break away and govern themselves.

The Declaration of Independence was written in secret by future president Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28 of that year.

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It was read and revised by members of the Continental Congress between June 28 and July 2.

The formal vote took place on July 4. The congressional members signed the document on Aug. 2. Copies of it were sent to the 13 states in January.

Of course, England didn't accept the declaration. The Revolutionary War raged on for seven years until British officials finally accepted the colonists' demands in 1783 and a treaty of peace was signed in Paris. Technically, that treaty lasted only five years.

Philadelphia was the only major city that celebrated Independence Day in 1777. The holiday wasn't widely recognized until after the War of 1812 with Britain.

After that, towns began organizing celebrations. Ground-breaking ceremonies for the Erie Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad were held on Independence Day.

Congress passed a law in 1870 declaring July 4th a federal holiday.

Some interesting facts:

There were 2.5 million people living in the American colonies in 1776. There are now 312 million people residing in the United States.

Independence Day is the largest secular holiday in the nation, with parades, picnics, fireworks, concerts, barbecues and other activities held in honor of it.

At your picnic, there is a one in four chance that the hot dog or pork sausage you eat will come from Iowa. That state has 19 million hogs and pigs.

There's a one in three chance that the baked beans will come from North Dakota. That state produces 36 percent of the dry, edible beans in the United States.

There's a good chance the lettuce in your salad is from California. This state produces 75 percent of the lettuce harvested in the country.

The watermelon you munch on? Most likely, it came from Florida.

For more information on Independence Day, check out these websites:


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