4th of July – the American Independence Day. But is it really the correct date? Who was Captain America?
On 4 July 1776, 13 colonies announced their separation from Great Britain by adopting the Declaration of Independence, which is the usual name of a statement adopted by the Continental Congress announcing that these American colonies, regard themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, are no longer a part of the British Empire. Instead, they formed a new nation—the United States of America. USA, the world’s largest economy and the 3rd largest population reaching to 318 million, has certain weird but astounding facts in its kitty. What makes Americans different from others? Read on to discover about the unusual Presidents, geographical facts, eating habits and other interesting trivia.
- Fourth of July is NOT really the Independence Day and the Bald Eagle screech is actually a red-tailed hawk. The Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia voted July 2nd as the Independence Day but the official Declaration of Independence was adopted on 4th July, 1776 though it wasn’t signed until the early August by most of the people. Apart from that, Bald Eagle, national bird of America, with whose screech many Americans symbolize the patriotism isn’t the call of an eagle but a red-tailed hawk. The screech of bald-eagle is a feeble one.
- Apple has more operating cash than the US treasury. The liquid cash-in hand at Apple amounts to $158.5 billion while that of US treasury stands at meager $48.5 billion. The iPhone maker possesses thrice the cash than the US government has. Moreover, the Cupertino-based company is richer than Iraq and Philipines combined.
- Being a minor in USA, it is legal for you to smoke if you get someone to buy a cigarette for you. It’s legal in America for kids to smoke a cigarette but illegal to buy one. In another unrelated fact, the first-born of Budweiser family is made to drink beer even before the mother’s milk.
- One in three American is an obese. Not surprising, since the Americans consume 100 pounds of chocolate per second, 22 million chickens everyday and 100 acres of pizza in a day!
- Every Federal Reserve note (read US dollar) has a lifespan which depends on its denominations. A US$1 note can be used only for 21 months while a $100 can be reworked for 7.5 years. So, now you must be thinking whether the dollar note rips in half? Well, it does! Only if you fold it forward and backward 4000 times; not a single time less than that.
- You think people have strange ways! Sample these US presidents.
- James A. Garfield was ambidextrous; not only could he write with both hands simultaneously, he could also write Latin with one hand and Greek with other, at the same time,
- Calvin Coolidge would press all the switches in his office to call in the staff-members and then hide. He would do this to check whether his staff was attentive or not!
- Abraham Lincoln features in the Wrestling Hall of Fame. Out of 300 matches, he was defeated only once.
- George Washington had a wish – never to stand on English soil again. His statue in England stands on American soil shipped from his country.
- The US government poisoned alcohol during the prohibition from 1920 to 1933 causing death of almost 10,000 people. The prohibition was a ban on sale, consumption, transportation and importation of alcoholic beverages in the United States.
- Geographically, Russia and America are less than 4 km apart at the nearest meeting point. In totally unrelated news, US purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for just $7.2 million.
- Around 35 million Americans share their DNA with atleast one of the 102 pilgrims who arrived America on Mayflower in 1620.
- Americans are known to be melodramatic, self-obsessed, attention-seeker and status obsessed. They feel the world revolves around them and every non-American either hates them or loves them.
- Captain America was the first generation Irish immigrant, born on 4th July, 1920 to Irish parents, Sarah and Joseph Rogers.
Happy Fourth July! Â Or oops! Are we two days late?
Have fun!
