HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

Every year, Americans from Seattle to New Jersey to Texas to Chicago celebrate the 4th of July with parties and fireworks. Do you know why we celebrate July 4th?

The 4th of July symbolizes the birthday of our great country -- the United States of America. It was on this day in 1776 that the United States declared its independence from England. July 4 marks the beginning of a tremendous journey to becoming the proud and strong country that we are today.

Most people living in our country during the 18th century had come from England; they were known as American colonists. Although they now lived in a different land, the colonists were still required to abide by England's laws; they were also made to pay British taxes.

Over time, the colonists became angry with the way they were ruled by England, and they decided to take action. A group of Americans banned together and made a plan to become an independent nation. To be independent means to make your own laws, declare your own taxes and take responsibility for your own actions.

The group met in Philadelphia, where they decided to write a formal document that would define America's independence. Thomas Jefferson worked for days to create the proper document with the right wording that would declare America's freedom, or independence, from England. His first draft was presented to the committee on June 28, 1776.

The committee then revised Jefferson's document and made it official on July 4, 1776; the document was officially named the Declaration of Independence. The first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence says:

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

On the 4th of July, Americans take time to remember who we are and where we have come from. The United States of America has come a long way since that day in July of 1776. Thanks to all the Americans who had the courage to declare our independence more than 200 years ago. Celebrate July 4th!

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