Fun Facts About the Declaration of Independence – July 3, 2019
Please be advised that our office will be closed in observance of Indepdendence Day tomorrow, July 4th. We will we back on Friday the 5th, but it is possible that we will have reduced office hours, as well. We wish all of our clients a happy and safe 4th of July!
On July 4th, we celebrate the 243rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In its honor, here are 8 fun facts about one of the nation’s most treasured documents:
1. Independence was declared on July 2nd, the Declaration was adopted on July 4th, and it was signed on August 2nd.
2. John Hancock was the first to sign.
3. Thomas Jefferson is considered the author of the Declaration. A five-person committee made up of Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman contributed ideas.
4. The Declaration and Constitution were taken to Fort Knox shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
5. There is a message on the back of the Declaration that reads, “Original Declaration of Independence dated July 4, 1776.” Experts believe it was added while in storage.
6. The first public reading of the Declaration took place on July 8, 1776 in Philadelphia.
7. When George Washington read the Declaration in New York City on July 9, 1776, the words were so inspiring the people started a riot.
8. John Dunlap made about 200 copies, which were distributed throughout the colonies. There are only 26 known surviving “Dunlap Broadsides.”
In 1989, someone discovered a previously unknown Dunlap Broadside hidden in a picture frame bought for $4 at a flea market. It was sold in 2000 for over $8 million.
We hope you enjoyed these facts as much as we enjoyed researching and sharing them!
Created 2019-07-03 14:54:56
