7 Fourth of July facts that will surprise you

7 odd July 4th facts Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird but was overruled by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who recommended the bald eagle. In 2012, fireworks sales by wholesalers totaled $482.6 million and sales by retailers totaled $368.6. In 2016, the United States imported $5.4 million in American flags. Americans consume around 155 million hot dogs on the Fourth of July each year. They also spend $92 million on chips, $167.5 million on watermelon, and $341.4 million on beer. Over 11,000 people will visit ERs this Independence Day, due to firework-related injuries. Fireworks have been a major part of Fourth of July since the earliest celebrations. In 1884, miners blew up the post office in Swan, Colorado, because it wasn't supplied with fireworks. Countries like Denmark, England, Norway, Portugal and Sweden, celebrate the Fourth of July because many of their citizens moved to the US or simply to attract American tourists.