Centerfold

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* TJH Centerfold

Say What?

What’s red, white, black and blue? Uncle Sam falling down the stairs.  What happened as a result of the Stamp Act? The Americans licked the British!

What kind of tea did the American colonists want? Liberty.

What’s the di erence between a duck and George Washington? One has a bill on his face, and the other has his face on a bill.  What does the Statue of Liberty stand for? It can’t sit down.

What would you get if you crossed George Washington with cattle feed? The fodder of our country!

What did one fl ag say to the other fl ag? Nothing. It just waved.

Firework Facts

!It is believed that “fi recrackers” were fi rst discovered in China during the Han dynasty (200 B.C.), when pieces of green bamboo were thrown into fi re. They sizzled and exploded, startling everyone around.

!Today, 90% of fi reworks come from China.

However, the highest caliber of fi reworks are manufactured in Spain.

!In order for a fi rework to properly launch, its fuse must fi rst be ignited to produce the shell’s lifto . The fuse, however, will continue to burn as the shell rises. Once it is at its optimal height, a center burst charge ignites, lighting and spreading the stars in di erent shapes across the sky.

!A Guinness Book of World Record was made for the largest fi rework display in 2012. It consisted of 77,282 fi reworks and was achieved by the State of Kuwait during the celebrations for their 50th anniversary.

!Some fi reworks rockets can reach speeds of 150mph and can reach as high as 200 meters in the air.

!The Walt Disney Company is the largest consumer of fi reworks in the U.S.

!In 2012, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety

Commission reported that 60% of fi reworkrelated accidents took place between June 22–July 22.

4th of July Trivia

1. In what year did the United States declare its independence from

Britain? a. 1796 b. 1492 c. 1776 d. 1837

2. Why do we celebrate July 4th? a. America won the Revolutionary

War on that day b. The Constitution of the United

States was signed on that day c. The Declaration of

Independence was adopted on that day d. George Washington became president on that day

3. What is the chronological order of the following four presidents? a. James Madison b. John Adams c. George Washington d. Thomas Je erson

4. Which one (or more) of the following presidents signed the Declaration of

Independence? a. James Madison b. John Adams c. George Washington d. Thomas Je erson c. John Adams d. Barack Obama

6. Which one (or more) of the following presidents died on July 4? a. James Madison b. John Adams c. James Monroe d. George Washington e. Thomas Je erson

5. Which two of the following presidents were bitter political rivals? a. Thomas Je erson b. Abraham Lincoln 7. In which other country is there a

July 4th? a. France b. Britain c. Australia d. Canada

Answers: 1. C 2. C: Actually, on July 2, 1776, the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress. John Adams, in his writings, even noted that July 2 would be remembered in the annals of American history and would be marked with fi reworks and celebrations. The written Declaration of Independence was dated July 4 but wasn’t actually signed until August 2. (To all you lawyers out there, you are not the only ones who pre-date documents!). 3. C, B, D, A 4. B, D: Both John Adams (the second president of the USA) and Thomas Je erson (the third president of the USA) signed the Declaration of Independence. George Washington did not sign the Declaration of Independence because he was in New York preparing for battle with the British Army. 5. A, C: Although they had worked together in the cause for independence, John Adams and Thomas Je erson became truly bitter enemies when political parties began to form around each of them. When George Washington left the presidency, the battle for a successor was bitterly fought between Vice President Adams and Secretary Je erson. Adams defeated Je erson by a 3-vote margin (71-68 electoral votes), becoming our second president. That bitter campaign was renewed in 1800 when Je erson defeated Adams to become our third president. John Adams often proclaimed, “I will outlive Je erson.” However, after they ended their political careers, they reconciled their di erences and became close friends. 6. B, C, E: John Adams and Thomas Je erson died on the same day – July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the birth of our nation! Thomas Je erson died several hours before Adams, hence fulfi lling John Adams’ promise that he will outlive Je erson. The third president to die on Independence Day was James Monroe (5th president of the USA), who died on July 4, 1831. 7. Want to think about that question for a little longer?

Your Score: 5-7 Correct: You are a true patriot! 3-4 Correct: American exceptionalism has a place for mediocrity as well. 0-2 Correct: Hopefully the fi reworks will spark up your mind a bit!