And the others believe we got independence on July 4th...idiots!!!
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War and was signed on September 3, 1783. I think that date is our country's REAL birthday.
Other "lost history" (i.e., not taught in schools) is that we had "Continental Congress Presidents" before George Washington became the first President of the United States. Some people think GW became our president on July 4, 1776.
Their office was created by the articles of confederation rather then the Constitution of the United States.
They were:
1. Peyton Randolph
2. Henry Middleton
3. Peyton Randolph
4. John Hancock
5. Henry Laurens
6. John Jay
7. Samuel Huntington
8. Thomas McKean (I lived on Mc Kean St. in So. Philly...)
9. John Hanson
10. Elias Boudinot
11. Thomas Mifflin (I lived on Mifflin St. in So. Philly...)
12. Richard Henry Lee
13. John Hancock[g]
14. Nathaniel Gorham
15. Arthur St. Clair
16. Cyrus Griffin
Another little known fact:
John Jay's full name was John Jacob Jingelheimer Schmidt. But it was too long, and every time his name was spoken, everyone would burst out into an very annoying song (which was a popular drinking song at the time!).
So a vote was held in committee to shorten his name as to prevent meetings from degrading into a debacle all the time.
Disclaimer: It is possible that I made this whole thing up. History is often very hard to prove...
