10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Fourth of July

1. It’s the Philippine Independence Day, Too

America isn’t the only country to gain its independence on the 4th of July. In the Philippines, the 4th of July actually marks independence from America. The United States was ceded the Philippines in 1898, as part of the treaty that ended the Spanish-American War. But on July 4th, 1946, shortly after World War II, the U.S. granted the Philippines its sovereignty. Rwanda also celebrates “Liberation Day” on the 4th to commemorate the end of the Rwandan genocide: On July 4th, 1994, the Rwandan Patriotic Front gained control of the capital city of Kigali, setting the stage for peace.

2. It’s the Anniversary of Three Presidential Deaths

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were ideological opposites and election rivals, but the two Founding Fathers reconciled late in life—which made their nearly simultaneous deaths on July 4, 1826, all the more meaningful. On the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson uttered his last words, “Is it the fourth yet?” before passing away. Later that same day, Adams also died, but not before saying, “Thomas Jefferson survives,” unaware his dear friend had already passed on. Five years later, on July 4, 1831, James Monroe, the last presidential Founding Father, died as well.

It’s not bad news for all Commanders in Chief, however: Calvin Coolidge, the nation’s 30th president, was born on July 4, 1872.

3. It Didn’t Become a National Holiday Until 1870

Americans began observing the Fourth of July as early as 1777, when the first-ever major celebration in Philadelphia included a parade, a thirteen-shot cannon salute, and fireworks, but Congress didn’t make it official until 1870, when it was part of a bill passed to recognize major state holidays at a federal level—like Independence Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Fourth did not become a paid legal holiday until 1938, as part of a that bill that granted holiday leave to employees of the federal government.

4. John Adams Didn’t Want to Celebrate It…

Many historians know our second president for his fickle nature: his defense of British soldiers after the Boston Massacre, his notorious correspondence with his wife Abigail, and then there was that whole complicated bromace with Thomas Jefferson—the original frenemies. So here’s one to add to the list: he went to his grave refusing to take part in Independence Day celebrations on the 4^th of July. According to Adams, the colonies truly broke from tyranny on July 2^nd—the day that the members of the Continental Congress first voted to approve the Declaration of Independence.

5…But He Still Predicted How Others Would

That said, after signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Adams wrote to his wife, predicting—with remarkable accuracy—how we would be celebrating Independence Day today, saying, “It ought to be 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 forward forever more.”

6. It’s the Biggest Hot-Dog Holiday of the Year

Americans eat some 20 billion hot dog per year, and 155 million of them are consumed on July 4th alone, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. That’s enough average-sized franks to stretch from L.A. to D.C. five times, with some left over.

7. King George III Never Called It ‘Nothing of Importance’

As the story goes, on the day that his soon-t0-be-ex subjects were ratifying their Declaration of Independence, England’s King George III wrote in his diary, “Nothing of importance happened today.” But if it sounds like a historical irony too good to be true, that’s because it is: NPR discovered five years ago that George never even kept a diary and the myth stemmed from an actual diary entry of King Louis XVI of France from 1789. So much for a retroactive “I told you so.”

8. For Drivers, It’s More Dangerous Than New Year’s Eve

Many people travel on the Fourth, often driving long distances—and without the wariness or extra foresight they might take on famously boozy New Year’s. Between 2004 and 2008, an average of 148 people died in traffic accidents on July 4, more than any other day of the year, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Nearly 41 percent of then were alcohol-related, compared to 31 percent on an average day.

9. It’ll Cause More Than 1,000 Fireworks Injuries

American consumers will spend more than $600 million on fireworks this Fourth, according to H&R Block. And they’d do well to use them with caution: Health officials expect more than 1,400 hand injuries are caused by fireworks on Independence Day. Sparklers, which can reach up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, are the number one cause of injury.

10. It’ll Generate at Least $190 Million Worth of Beer Sales

The Nielsen Company reported that 24 million cases of beer were sold during the holiday period in 2008 (the most recent date for a report of this size and scale), helping generate $190 billion dollars for the U.S. economy.

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