Spice Up Your Fourth of July

July 4th is more than just a day for barbecuing and fireworks.  It commemorates the day that the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, declaring that the 13 colonies were free from the crown of Great Britain.  Interestingly enough, only two of the 56 men who signed the Declaration actually signed it on July 4th.

If you want to impress your friends and family with your patriotic knowledge, head over to USA.gov's page on Independence Day.  You can learn some fun facts about the day (for example, can you name the two Presidents who died on July 4, 1826--exactly 50 years after the Declaration's passage?)  You can also see a list of patriotic songs and get information about our historical documents.

If you want a more in-depth history, here are two more pages to visit.  The History Channel has a great interactive site.  PBS's site for their annual concert, A Capitol Fourth, has a history section that covers not only Independence day, but also the history of our flag and the national mall.

If you want to learn more about the 56 men who signed the Declaration, head over to Amazon and get this book.  Originally printed in 1848, it has been reprinted.  Currently, it is available in Kindle edition for under $3 and print edition for under $10.  (But you might want to check throughout the weekend to see if any sales are offered!)

Finally, nothing finishes off Independence Day like fireworks.  If you can't make it to a fireworks display or want to see another one, get the free Fireworks Arcade app (an ad-free version is also available for 99 cents).  Just open it and tap your screen for a great display, and shake to get the finale!  Fireworks Arcade is available for both Android and iOS.