The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. The holiday celebration dates back to the 18th century and, of course, the Revolutionary War. 

Conflict arose between Great Britain and the 13 North American colonies in 1775. More than a decade before the American Revolution in 1775, tensions had been building between the Americans and the British. 

By 1776, the Revolutionary War was in full swing. On July 4, the Continental Congress voted to officially adopt the Declaration of Independence. It was written by five men including Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, however, it was mainly written by Thomas Jefferson.

Taking time to learn about our nation’s history is important. We stopped five people at various locations in Brookhaven to see how much they know about the great U.S. of A.

Here are the questions and answers:

What is the Declaration of Independence?

• “It’s like the declaration they signed asking for independence.”

• “The piece of paper that declared our independence. I know John Hancock signed it really big.” 

• “That is the paper that was written for … uhhh, it’s like what makes us a free country.”

• “A piece of paper that was signed for our independence, I guess.”

What happened on July 4, 1776?

• “We got independent.” 

• “We got our independence from Great Britain.”

• “Signed the Declaration of Independence.”

• “The nation was founded.”

Who was our first president?

• “George Washington.”

• “It’s like on the tip of my tongue. George Washington!”

• “George Washington.”

• “George Washington.”

• “George Washington.”

Who were we fighting in the Revolutionary War?

• “Great Britain.”

• “I know, it was someone. The British?”

• “Great Britain.”

• “The French.”

• “The British.”

Name one person who signed the Declaration of Independence.

• “George Washington.”

• “George Washington.”

• “John Hancock.”

• “John Hancock.”

• “John Hancock.”

The correct answers:

George Washington didn’t sign the Declaration of Independence.

The United States was at war with Great Britain in the Revolutionary War, not the French.

George Washington was our first president.

Independence was formally declared on July 2, 1776. On July 4, 1776, Congress approved the final text of the Declaration. It wasn’t signed until Aug. 2, 1776.

In total, 56 men signed the document, with Hancock being the most famous, because his signature is so large.

On Sept. 3, 1783, Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States in the Treaty of Paris. This brought the American Revolution to an end after eight years of war.