What is Independence Day?

Independence Day, also called the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was signed on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. Independence Day is celebrated as a national holiday in the United States, with fireworks, parades, barbecues, and other festivities.