Star-Spangled Trivia

Happy 250th Birthday America!

By Paula Green

This year’s Independence Day is extra special because America is turning 250, a milestone known as the Semiquincentennial. All over the country, people will celebrate with historic reenactments, picnics, parades, and spectacular fireworks.

In the early 1770s, many colonists believed Parliament wanted to take away their freedom. The Founding Fathers worried that granting all government power to a single monarch could lead to abuse and threaten individual rights. They wanted a system with checks and balances to protect everyone.

On June 11, 1776, Thomas Jefferson started writing the Declaration of Independence in his Philadelphia boardinghouse. Congress voted for independence on July 2 and ratified the Declaration two days later. The majority of the delegates signed it on August 2. Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, made a profound statement at the signing. He reportedly said, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

After America gained independence, some remarkable events happened on the Fourth of July. Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, former presidents and Founding Fathers, died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after Independence Day. Five years later, James Monroe, another former president and Founding Father, also died on July 4, 1831.

On a brighter note, Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. Also, the children’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was published on July 4, 1865. Congress declared Independence Day a federal holiday in 1870. In 1938, it became a paid holiday for federal employees.

Americans love their Fourth of July picnics and fireworks. Each year, they spend over $2 billion on fireworks. Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show in New York City is the largest in the country. The show is choreographed to patriotic music. Around 150 million hot dogs are eaten on the July holiday, enough to stretch from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles more than five times.

For dessert, Americans enjoy about 155 million pounds of watermelon. Apple pie is a favorite and became a symbol of patriotism in the 19th and 20th centuries. The phrase “As American as apple pie” was even used in war propaganda to inspire patriotism.

Since we have focused on our country’s 250th birthday, we must now delve into this red, white, and blue query. Get set to don those party hats, because it’s time to get a little trivial.

1. Known for his large penmanship, he was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence.

2. Which city hosted the Continental Congress when they signed the Declaration of Independence? 

3. What bird did Benjamin Franklin want to be the national bird, instead of the bald eagle? 

4. How many times does the Liberty Bell get symbolically tapped every Independence Day?

5. Who wrote our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”

6. This founding father wanted the U.S. to celebrate Independence Day on July 2. He refused to take part in any July 4 celebrations.

7. How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?

8. At age 70, he was the oldest person to sign the Declaration of Independence.

9. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is held every July 4th in what part of New York?

10. What is the name of the U.S. Military Academy that opened on July 4, 1802?

11. Which President held the first White House 4th of July celebration in 1801?

12. What year were fireworks first used to celebrate the 4th of July?

13. The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are all

       housed in this facility in Washington, D.C.

14. China is credited with inventing fireworks, but this European country is credited with making fireworks beautiful by discovering the use of metallic powders to create desired colors.

15. Which country gained its official independence from the United States on July 4, 1946, through the signing of the Treaty of Manila?

Answers: 1. John Hancock 2. Philadelphia 3. turkey 4. 13 (for the original colonies) 5. Francis Scott Key 6. John Adams 7. fifty-six 8. Benjamin Franklin 9. Coney Island 10. West Point 11. Thomas Jefferson 12. 1777 13. National Archives Museum 14. Italy 15. Philippines

Sources: www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration/how-did-it-happen, www.rd.com/list/things-you-didnt-know-about-independence-day/, npg.si.edu/blog/born-and-died-on-fourth-july, www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/history/history-quiz/, www.mombrite.com/4th-of-july-trivia/, greenlight.com/learning-center/fun-facts/4th-of-july-fun-facts, callmsi.com/4th-of-july-trivia/