 |
| Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration |
Independence Day of the United States, also
referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth in the U.S., is a federal
holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July
4, 1776, by the Continental Congress declaring that the thirteen American
colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and
no longer part of the British Empire. Independence Day is commonly associated
with fireworks, parades, barbecues,
carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts,
baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in
addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history,
government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the
National Day of the United States
 |
| 1823 facsimile of the engrossed copy |
