America's patriotism is
steeped in quirky history, from revolutionary quirks to modern symbols. Here
are ten odd facts that highlight the nation's eccentric spirit.
One: In 1917, the government briefly
tried to rename hamburgers “liberty
sandwiches” to avoid the German association.
Two: The back of the Declaration bears
an upside-down message: "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th
July 1776."
Three: Three U.S. presidents—John
Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe—died on July 4th, adding eerie
coincidence to the holiday.
Four: The Liberty Bell hasn't rung
since 1846, but it's symbolically tapped 13 times each Independence Day to
honor the original colonies.
Five: The Liberty Bell is one of the most famous cracked objects in
history—yet the crack people recognize today was actually a repair attempt that failed, leaving
the bell permanently silent.
Six: The 50-star American flag was
designed by 17-year-old Robert Heft for a school project, earning him a B-
until it was adopted.
Seven: Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration on a "laptop"—a portable writing desk that fit over the
lap.
Eight: Americans devour about 150
million hot dogs on July 4th, making it the biggest hot dog day of the year.
Nine: Six U.S. flags stand on the moon
from Apollo missions, proving patriotism reaches extraterrestrial heights.
Ten:
Benjamin Franklin preferred the turkey over the bald eagle as the national bird, arguing the
turkey was more respectable and less prone to stealing.
Adams and Jefferson not only ran against each other, they died on the same exact day
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