American Trivia: Fireworks Costs, Presidents Golfing & Hot Dog Eating

Kathie Lee & Hoda: Who Knew? American Trivia

236 years ago today our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, so to help celebrate our country’s birthday Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb tested your knowledge of American trivia. To help them out, Cheryl Barnes, author of Liberty Lee’s Tail of Independence, joined them in the studio.

American Trivia: The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence was signed by all of the delegates on July 4 1776?

• True
• False

The correct answer is false. Cheryl Barnes said no one signed the Declaration on July 4. It wasn’t really signed until August 2. John Hancock and the 56 signers signed it on August 2 or even a little bit later than that.

American Trivia: Fireworks

How much do Americans spend on fireworks each year?

• $500 million
• $650 million
• $800 million
• $1 billion

The correct answer is $650 million. Cheryl Barnes said that is what Americans spend, but if we add in all the public displays for fireworks it gets up to about $1 billion.

American Trivia: Liberty Bell

What caused the crack in the Liberty Bell?

• Cold weather
• It came that way
• Overuse
• It fell

The correct answer is overuse. Cherly Barnes said it was used from 1752 until 1846 and when they were going to ring it for the anniversary of George Washington’s birthday, it had that fatal crack and that’s what did it.

American Trivia: Presidents Playing Golf

Which American president was known to play golf every 4th of July?

• Gerald Ford
• Dwight Eisenhower
• Bill Clinton
• Ronald Reagan

The correct answer is Dwight Eisenhower. Cheryl Barnes said he loved golf. He played 800 rounds while he was in office those eight years and he built the first putting green in the White House.

American Trivia: Eating Hot Dogs

How many hot dogs will be consumed on the 4^th of July?

• 50 million
• 100 million
• 150 million
• 200 million

The correct answer is 150 million. Cheryl Barnes said it is National Hot Dog Month and if you line those hot dogs up it would go from New York to LA five times.

American Trivia: George Washington

George Washington was among the original group of men appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence?

• True
• False

The correct answer is false. Cheryl Barnes said that George Washington was not a delegate then. He resigned to become Commander in Chief of the Continental Army at that time, so he was not there for the signing.