Revolutionary America
The Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress on July 4, 1776, but in what city?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Declaration of Independence was approved in Independence Hall
Three presidents died on July 4th. Name one.
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe
Nathan's Famous has held its iconic hot dog eating contest every July 4th since 1972 in what New York borough?
Brooklyn
Fun Fact: The contest has become an international event watched by millions. Winners can eat 60-75 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes! The tradition is tied to Coney Island, which has been a popular summer destination since the late 1800s.
Who sang "God Bless the U.S.A."?
True or False: The Declaration of Independence was signed by everyone on July 4, 1776
False
July 4 is the date Congress officially adopted the Declaration, but most delegates didn't sign the famous parchment until August 2, 1776. A few even signed later.
Which delegate proposed that the colonies should become independent before the Declaration was even written?
Richard Henry Lee
Which president was born on the Fourth of July?
Calvin Coolidge
Which city hosts the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in America?
Bristol, Rhode Island
Fun Fact: Bristol has celebrated Independence Day every year since 1785.
Finish the lyric:
"I'm proud to be an American..."
"...where at least I know I'm free."
How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?
56
The signers represented all 13 colonies and came from many different backgrounds. They included lawyers, farmers, merchants, doctors, and plantation owners. Signing the Declaration was incredibly risky-it was considered an act of treason against Britain, punishable by death if the Revolution failed.
Only two men signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
Benjamin Franklin or Roger Sherman
Which president refused to celebrate the Fourth of July while the Civil War was raging?
Abraham Lincoln
Before fireworks became common, what military display was often used to celebrate Independence Day?
Cannon salutes
Fun Fact: In 1777, many towns celebrated with 13 cannon blasts, representing the original colonies. The loud booms symbolized strength and the nation's fight for independence.
Who composed "The Stars and Stripes Forever"
John Philip Sousa
The original handwritten Declaration of Independence is housed in what city?
Washington D.C.
The original document is displayed at the National Archives Building in a special climate-controlled case. It's kept in very low light because exposure to light and air causes the ink to fade. Today, some signatures are much harder to read than they were 250 years ago.
Who became the first person to sign the Declaration?
John Hancock
Who was the oldest signer of the Declaration?
Who was the youngest signer of the Declaration?
Benjamin Franklin (70)
Edward Rutledge (26)
Every Fourth of July at noon, the U.S. Army performs a ceremonial salute by firing one round for each state. What is this tradition called?
The Salute to the Union
Fun Fact: Today, the salute includes 50 rounds-one for each state. It's performed at military installations across the country as a formal tribute to the United States.
Who wrote the national anthem?
Francis Scott Key
What country gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States?
France
France gave the statue as a gift in 1886 to celebrate the friendship between the two countries and the ideals of liberty and democracy. The statue was built in France, shipped across the Atlantic in hundreds of pieces, and then reassembled in New York Harbor.
What famous phrase appears in the Declaration immediately after "Life, Liberty..."
"...and the pursuit of Happiness"
Which president established Independence Day as a paid federal holiday in 1941?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
How many times is the Liberty Bell symbolically tapped every Independence Day?
13 times
Fun Fact: The Liberty Bell is too fragile to ring, so descendants of the Declaration's signers ceremonially tap it 13 times- once for each original colony. Churches and bells around the country often join in at the same time.
Which Broadway musical made renewed interest in the American Revolution explode in popularity?
Hamilton
In 1776, about how many people lived in the United States?
A. 250,000
B. 2.5 million
C. 10 million
D. 20 million
B- About 2.5 million