NATIONAL NEWS
July 1, 2006
Celebrating the 4th of July
Find out how America won its freedom on Independence Day
 Fireworks are a common way to celebrate the 4th of July. |
Americans celebrate July 4 each year with patriotic parties, fireworks, and barbecues, but why is this day so important in our nation's history? On July 4, 1776, representatives from North America's 13 colonies signed the Declaration of Independence, the most important of all American historical documents.
The Birth of a Nation
Until the declaration was signed, America was under the rule of the British government. But as the 13 North American British colonies began to form, Americans felt that they were being treated unfairly by the British government. They felt that they were paying too much in taxes to Great Britain and were angry they did not have anyone to represent them in the government.
 |  Thomas Jefferson holds the Declaration of Independence. |
By June 1776, Americans were tired of trying to work out an agreement with Great Britain, so they decided to write the Declaration of Independence. On July 2, 1776, all 13 colonies officially separated from Great Britain and became the United States. But it wasn’t that easy. The declaration led to the Revolutionary War between the U.S. and Great Britain, a war eventually won by the U.S. with help from some of its allies.
America Inspires the World
America's Declaration of Independence was so powerful that it encouraged people all over the world to fight for their own freedom. The declaration inspired South America to fight for its independence from Spanish rule. It also inspired the French during the French Revolution. The declaration is often used as a symbol for justice and freedom for other nations as well.
