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7 Common Misconceptions About the Fourth of July
Mental Floss • • nation
Key Points:
- American independence was technically declared on July 2, 1776, when Congress voted for Richard Henry Lee’s resolution, while the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4.
- The Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4 but on August 2, 1776, with John Hancock as the first signatory; the notion of a unified signing event on July 4 is a myth.
- George Washington did not sign the Declaration as he was leading the Continental Army, and other key figures like Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay also did not sign for various reasons.
- The Liberty Bell did not ring on July 4, 1776, to celebrate independence; this story was fabricated in 1847, though the bell did ring for other historical events like the Stamp Act.
- Not all Americans supported independence—about 15-20% were Loyalists backing Britain, and Native American allegiances were divided, with many supporting the British but others siding with the colonists.
