The people of the United States of America celebrate their Independence Day on the Fourth of July. It was on this day that the American Declaration of Independence was signed by the Continental Congress in 1776, in Philadelphia. It is that time of the year when the American people feel proud of their nation and remember those who laid down their lives for the sake of the country.

The people of America fought the American War of Independence between 1775 and 1783. The war was fought against the Great Britain who had been ruling thirteen colonies of North America. These colonies were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. After adopting the Declaration of Independence, these colonies became the United States.

There had been growing unrest among the people of America regarding the unjust policies of the British Empire. The series of taxes and other laws imposed on the American people proved to be very unpopular. The Navigation Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Act, the Tea Act and the Intolerable Acts were some of the acts that had made the life of the American people miserable. They were made to pay taxes for living in their own country. Apart from these, there were significant differences in terms of social values, religious beliefs and economic interests as well. All these reasons were enough for the people of America to rise up and revolt. King George III, who was the monarch of Britain then, sent troops to the colonies to control any such uprising, instead of making a compromise.

On April 19, 1775, the first war for American independence took place in Concord. This gave an opportunity to the thirteen colonies to get involved in the war and they sent their troops to Boston to besiege it and were even able to throw out the British from there in 1776. The fighting was led by George Washington. The people were now divided as the patriots, the loyalists and the neutrals. But by this time several states had declared their independence and the loyalists had remained in few numbers.

On July 2, 1776, the Congress declared the United States to be free and on July 4, it adopted the Declaration of Independence. The colonies were combined into a confederation of sovereign states. But in 1776, the British were able to capture some of the American states in the ‘Battle of Long Island’. These included New York City, New Jersey, Savannah and Charleston. The Americans were supported by the French in their war against the British.

Finally, on September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed which recognized the new state and with time, America got its independence. There were some post-war difficulties but soon the United States emerged as a strong nation.

By the early 1800s, the celebration of the day had undergone a significant change. There were patriotic displays all over America. The traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks had become an important part of American Independence Day celebrations. Even today, there are parades in the morning and fireworks in the evening that are followed by patriotic songs including the National Anthem.

The people of America celebrate the day today with equal enthusiasm. They organize picnics or barbecues on this day. The decorations consist of streamers, balloons and sparklers mainly of red, blue and white colors that signify the colors of the American flag. There is lot of food and various activities that entertain the people. The day holds an important place in every American’s life as it reminds them of the sacrifices that people have made for them so that they live in an independent country.