Independence Day Oddities

So you think you know all about Independence Day, right? The Fourth of July in the US is celebrated because that is when all those people signed the Declaration of Independence back in 1776, right?  WRONG!  Read on and discover some unusual facts about this day in American history...

1.  The Declaration of Independence was NOT signed by all of the participants on July 4th, 1776.  John Hancock was the only one of the original 56 signers to actually sign it on July 4th.  It took until 1781 for one of them to finally sign it!

2.  The Liberty Bell was not rung on July 4th, 1776 because the paperwork was neither signed nor proclaimed on that date.  The bell was rung on July 8th after most of the 56 signers had finally completed the paperwork.

3.  Williamsburg, Virginia is the only city which celebrates Independence Day on July 25th instead of July 4th because that is when the actual declaration was adopted.

4.  Rough and Ready, California tried to break away from the union on April 7th, 1850 but quickly decided to rejoin the country on July 4th when saloons in the area made it clear that no liquor would be sold to non-citizens!

5.  Three presidents died on Independence Day.  Jefferson and Adams died within minutes of each other on July 4th, 1826 and Monroe died on July 4th, 1831.