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4th of July Fun Facts

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the 13 Colonies from Great Britain was on July 2, 1776, proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. After voting for independence, the US Congress prepared the Declaration of Independence, a document explaining this decision, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. However.....Some historians say that even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all wrote that they signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776; It was signed nearly a month after later, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed. A French treaty with the colonists is agreed in February 1778 and two months later a large French fleet sails for America. In the following year, France persuades a reluctant Spain to join and help the campaign. By the end of September 1781 George Washington controls the City of Yorktown with an army of about 14,000 men; With no practical hope of getting any help, Cornwallis, one of the principal British Generals, surrenders on October 19. The treaty signed in Paris on September 3,1783 brings the American Revolution to its conclusion.

More Fun Facts: Washington became the first President of the United States in 1789. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence that later were Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. James Monroe, the Fifth President of the United States, died on July 4, 1831. Calvin Coolidge, the Thirtieth President, was born on July 4, 1872, and he has been the only President to be born on Independence Day.
Sources and Further Reading: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad10 http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States) http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/independence-day http://www.ussindependenceship.org/

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1) Considering the text, Lets discuss the following: a- What are the two facts that interested you the most?

b- When is it commonly believed that the Declaration of Independence was signed?

c- When was de independence approved by the US Congress?

d- Which European Countries helped the Colonies during the revolution?

e- When was the revolutionary war officially over (finished/ ended) ?

2) Whats another word for: Prepare: Nearly: 3) Answer the following questions: ( consider the info in the text) a- Was the US revolution a pacific revolution? Commonly: However:

b- How many years did it take the US to officially get their Independence?

c- Which country was at first unwilling to help the US?