4th of July

 The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, is a significant national holiday in the United States. It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which declared the American colonies' independence from the British Empire. 

The Declaration of Independence

The Committe of Five presents their draft of the Declaration of Independence to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the principal author of the Declaration who later became the 3rd President of the United States between 1801-1809

On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later, on July 4, they formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, a document drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson. The declaration asserted the colonies' rights to self-governance and outlined the principles of liberty and equality that would shape the nation.

After its adoption, the document was signed by 56 people who were the representatives of the 13 colonies. These signatories included prominent figures such as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. For this act, they became known as ''The Founding Fathers of the United States of America''.

However, the 4th of July was not oficially recognized as a federal holiday until many years later. In 1870, Congress declared July 4 a federal holiday for federal employees in Washington D.C. Later, in 1941, the US Congress passed a law making Independence Day a federal holiday nationwide, ensuring that all Americans could celebrate this significant day.