7. 1996 – An attack by an alien race was rebuffed when a scientist uploads a virus into the alien mothership using an Apple Powerbook 5300. President Thomas J. Whitmore gave a rousing speech before entering a jet himself to battle the aliens. Also, years before Will Smith slapped Chris Rock he welcomed an alien to “Erf” after downing his ship over the desert. 

6. 1946 – Ironically, the Philippines became independent from the United States on the anniversary of U.S. independence after decades of American control.

5. 1848 – President James K. Polk laid the cornerstone for the Washington Monument, its construction would be halted numerous times and it would take until 1885 to be officially dedicated. Peace with Mexico was also achieved.

4. 1997 – The first manmade object, a rover named Sojourner, completed its trek to Mars as part of NASA’s Mars Pathfinder mission which relayed photos and information back to Earth until September 27th. Also, on this date in 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft did a flyby of the planet/not-planet of Pluto.

3. 1826 – Two presidents and founding fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, passed away on the same day, exactly 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

2. 1884 – The Statue of Liberty was completed in France and would be delivered to the United States as a gift to the American people. The statue was disassembled and sent to the United States for it’s official unveiling on October 28, 1886.

1. 1776 – The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, creating the United States of America, and we never looked back at those tea-drinking, tax-loving, wanker Brits. USA! USA! USA!