247 years of independent America Today is the 247th Independence Day of the world’s most powerful country, the United States of America (USA). On this occasion, the country is celebrating the annual ceremony of Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress declared the independence and union of the 13 American colonies with King George III of Britain. The Congress had also voted on this announcement two days earlier i.e. on 2 July 1776.
Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson later served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. Surprisingly, Jefferson also died on July 4, 1826. Two other US presidents – John Adams and James Monroe – also died on July 4.
Let’s know 8 surprising things related to America…
On October 18, 1867, America bought its largest province – Alaska from Russia. It was bought from the Czar rulers for $7.2 million (Rs.354/sq.km).
In 1958, 17-year-old Robert Heff designed the current flag for a school project. Earlier, America had adopted two types of flags in 1775 and 1777. Robert got a B grade for it, which was later upgraded to an A. US President Eisenhower chose it as the country’s flag on 4 July 1960.
The White House, the President’s House of America, was built on 13 October 1792 by African-American slaves. Migrant laborers were also involved in this. He did not have US citizenship. It was called the Presidential Palace or the President’s House. In 1811 it was named the White House.
George Washington, who designed the site and design for the White House, never lived in it. On November 1, 1800, John Adams became the first president to live in the White House.
The British army set fire to the White House in 1814 after the ‘War of 1812’. Then President James Madison had to leave the White House. Between 1815-17, the White House was heavily renovated.
America is the first country to call its supreme elected leader as President. Till 1775 in America, the President of Congress (Parliament) was called President. At that time there used to be monarchy in most of the independent countries.
English is not the official language of America. The US government has never declared an official language.
Pizza arrived in America with Italian immigrants in the 19th century. American people eat about 300 million worth of pizza every year. Add up on a daily basis, so that’s about 100 acres of pizza.
