Independence Day: Fun facts you may not know about July 4
It was actually on July 2, 1776, that America gained its independence. So why do we celebrate on July 4?
Keep clicking to find out from Kenneth C. Davis, author of the "Don't Know Much About" book series.
Independence Day fun facts
"The fact is that John Adams wrote home to Abigail on the 3rd that this day, July 2nd, will go down in history," Davis explained on "CBS This Morning," "We'll celebrate it with parades and pomp and bells ringing and fireworks. And it was because Congress actually ruled it in favor of independence on July 2.
But it was two days later, of course, that Congress then accepted Jefferson's declaration, explaining the vote two days before that really got fixed in the America's imagination as our birthday. July 2nd should be Independence Day."
Independence Day fun facts
Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on a "laptop," a kind of writing desk that could fit on one's lap.
Independence Day fun facts
"Jefferson did not come up with these words out of thin air," Davis said on "CBS This Morning." "These were words and ideas that had been floating around for a very long time. Other people had written about things like 'the pursuit of property.' Jefferson, I think can say we say happily changed that to the 'pursuit of happiness'."
Watch: "CBS This Morning": Do you know the date of America's real Independence Day? Test your July 4th trivia
Independence Day fun facts
John Adams, pictured here, and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826. Davis explained, "That may be the most extraordinary coincidence in all of history. On the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the declaration...the two giants of the declaration both died. ... Jefferson died first. Adams was alive, of course, in Massachusetts. He didn't know that Jefferson had died but said, famously, perhaps apocryphally, that 'Jefferson still lives.' And people took that to mean his words will live forever."
Independence Day fun facts
The Liberty Bell had nothing to do with July 4th. It wasn't called the "Liberty Bell" until the 1830s and that's also when it got its famous crack.
Independence Day fun facts
Only two men signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776 -- John Hancock (not the big signature!) and Charles Thompson, secretary of the Congress.
Independence Day fun facts
Jefferson's original draft was lost and the one eventually signed is the "engrossed" document and is kept at the National Archives.
Independence Day fun facts
The printed version of the Declaration was called the Dunlap Broadside - 200 were made but only 27 are accounted for. One of these was found in the back of picture frame at a tag sale and sold at auction for $8.14 million to television producer Norman Lear. It now travels the country to be displayed to the public.