Points of Interest for Puzzled Patriots

Thanks to everyone for their participation. I’m glad that I could be a part of your celebration this year even if it did come from afar and necessitate a week of suspense. After all, the role of a teacher is to raise questions before answering them right? So, the points of interest …
1. July 4 became an official national holiday in 1941. (Answer D) Of course it was celebrated before but it took till 1941 to officially become a holiday–believe it or not.
2. July 4 is the date on which new stars were added to the flag for new states that had entered the Union. (True)
3. All of the following are flag-flying days: Christmas, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. (A, B, C and D)
4. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark had the honor of celebrating the first Fourth of July west of the Mississippi. (B)
5. Almost all our fireworks (as well as American flags!) come from China. Their “pyrotechnic mixtures” date back to the 11th century.
6. In the production of fireworks, sodium is used to create green or yellow, lithium is used for red and copper actually helps make blue!
7. This year, Iowa was responsible for producing most of the United States’ hot dogs and sausages. (C)
8. Last year California produced about 75% of the country’s lettuce and a full 96% of the country’s processed tomato products which would include ketchup.
9. Yes, according to tradition, the Liberty Bell cracked when it tolled the death of Chief Justice John Marshall not long after sixty years of use. It’s first two versions were defective and would not have lasted even that long. Today the Liberty Bell is tapped rather than rung on the Fourth.
10, 11. The Bald Eagle does live only in North American and acquires it’s white head at about five years of age. (True, C)
12. Since 1776 the US population has grown from about 2.5 to 304 million. (D) “In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince” (Proverbs 14:28).
13. Virginia is called the Mother of Presidents: seven of her first twelve presidents were born there–Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Harrison, Tyler and Taylor. Woodrow Wilson also came from this state.
14. Three of our presidents passed away on July 4th, Adams and Jefferson within hours of one another on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration. As a matter of fact, Adams and Jefferson were the only signers of the Declaration that later became president.
15. According to records kept by Jefferson, the weather during July 4, 1776 was in the 70’s. (C)
16. The Declaration of Independence begins with “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another . . .” (When)
17. God alone can judge men’s hearts. Jefferson and Franklin were more outspoken in their views than most of the other signers of the Declaration (and are thus quoted more often at present) and while John Adams seemed to turn away from the God of the Bible later in life, founding father James Wilson’s faith could also be questioned. Nominal religion aside, God used them as in the case of Franklin’s bringing the Constitutional Convention to prayer in it’s deliberations, reminding them that if God cared for the least of sparrows, He would care also for the fledgling nation.
18. Reagan was one who believed that “We are a nation under God”. This quote is taken from January 201 981.
19, 20. It says something about the nature of the Republic when Britain, our former adversary, has become our 6th-closest partner in international trade. Also, from statistics for 2003, but for Japan it was also the nation which sent America the greatest number of tourists.
Last but not least (drumroll please), the frame of the Statue of Liberty was designed by Gustave Eiffel, who engineered the Eiffel Tower.

2 Comments

  1. Esther July 11, 2008 at 3:03 pm #

    Thank you Donald! This will make a good dinner conversation with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Evelyn this evening for family night!

  2. Joshua July 4, 2009 at 7:16 pm #

    Staddon family – I just have to say that we’re planning on using this first class quiz at church tomorrow in celebration of Independence Day. Should be memorable – and thank you for taking the time to post such rich content on your blog!

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