If you’ve read my July 4th posts in years past, you know my usual routine. I’m usually the guy complaining about how July is the slowest month of the year for merchant services. I’m usually grumbling about how a three-day holiday completely disrupts our sales momentum right when we need to be closing deals.
But today is different. Today, I just feel proud.
Tomorrow, we celebrate exactly 250 years of being the United States of America. Given the amount of division we see in this country every day, it feels incredibly special that we can still all come together, pause the noise, and celebrate our country.
As we head into the holiday weekend, I wanted to take a break from our usual processing and sales strategy talk. Instead, let’s look back at how we got here.
Direct from the home office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania… here is today’s Top 10 countdown of odd facts you might not know about the United States and this historic 250th anniversary:
From the Home Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania…
Here is today’s Top 10 countdown of odd facts you might not know about the United States and this historic 250th anniversary
10. The Semi-Quincentennial is a Mouthful
The official, historical term for a 250th anniversary is the “semi-quincentennial” (or sestercentennial). Try saying that five times fast while pitching a merchant. “Quarter-millennium” works too, but if you want to sound incredibly academic at your backyard barbecue, drop “semi-quincentennial” after a few hot dogs.
9. Only Two Men Signed on July 4th
We celebrate the Fourth of July as the day the Declaration of Independence was signed, but it wasn’t actually signed by everyone that day. On July 4, 1776, only John Hancock (the President of the Continental Congress) and Charles Thomson (the secretary) actually signed the document. The rest of the 54 delegates signed it about a month later on August 2.
8. It Wasn’t Supposed to be on July 4th
John Adams, one of our key Founding Fathers, was convinced that July 2nd would be the date history remembered. July 2nd was the day the Continental Congress actually voted in favor of the resolution of independence. Adams was so sure of it that he reportedly turned down invitations to July 4th events in protest throughout his life.
7. A 250-Year-Old “Data Breach”
The Declaration of Independence was kept secret for a brief moment until it could be printed. A local printer named John Dunlap stayed up all night on July 4th printing about 200 copies (known as the “Dunlap Broadsides”) to be distributed across the colonies. Today, only 26 of those original prints are known to survive.
6. The Liberty Bell Hasn’t Rung Since 1846
The iconic symbol of American freedom hasn’t actually made a sound in nearly 180 years. The famous crack first appeared in the early 19th century, but it officially split and went silent on George Washington’s birthday in February 1846. Today, it is gently tapped, but never rung.
5. George Washington Celebrated with Double Rations of Rum
In 1778, two years after the declaration, General George Washington marked the Fourth of July by ordering a double ration of rum for all his soldiers, alongside an artillery salute. So, if you’re raising a glass this weekend, you’re just following presidential orders.
4. Three Presidents Died on the Fourth—and Two on the Same Day
In an eerie twist of historical coincidence, three of the first five U.S. presidents died on the anniversary of independence. Even crazier? Thomas Jefferson and John Adams—who went from close friends to bitter political rivals and back to friends—both died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration was adopted. James Monroe also died on the Fourth, five years later in 1831.
3. One President Was Born on the Fourth
On the flip side, only one U.S. president was born on Independence Day. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, was born on July 4, 1872. Known as “Silent Cal,” he was a man of few words—probably a tough prospect for a cold call, but a great piece of trivia.
2. The Current 50-Star Flag Was Designed for a Class Project (And Got a B-)
In 1958, with Alaska and Hawaii nearing statehood, a 17-year-old high school student named Robert G. Heft designed the 50-star flag we know today for a history class project. His teacher gave him a B-. Heft challenged the grade, and the teacher agreed that if President Dwight D. Eisenhower accepted the design for the nation, the grade would be raised. Eisenhower chose Heft’s design out of 1,500 submissions, and Heft got his well-deserved A.
And the # 1 Odd Facts about America is …
1. The “250” Milestone Was a Statistical Longshot
When the Founders signed that document 250 years ago, most of the world powers expected the American experiment to fail within a generation. Monarchy was the global norm, and a self-governing republic was seen as unstable. Yet, 250 years later, the U.S. Constitution remains the oldest written constitution still in use by any major nation in the world.
We work hard in this industry, and we fight for every point of margin and every new account. But this weekend, let’s take a breath, enjoy the momentum break, and celebrate the fact that we get to build businesses in a country that has defied the odds for a quarter-millennium.
Have a great, safe, and proud 4th of July everyone!
