Every Fourth of July, Americans celebrate Independence Day with picnics, parades, and fireworks. The day is sometimes celebrated as America’s birthday. On July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain and announced that they would form a new country—the United States of America. Before then, America was ruled by the king or queen of Great Britain, and Americans were considered English people who happened to live 3,000 miles and an ocean away from their “mother country.” Americans’ decision to declare themselves independent from Great Britain did not happen overnight. The Americans became unhappy over many years. When the Americans finally declared independence, the British did not let America go without a fight, which started a war. This entire period of time—from when the Americans first became unhappy with British rule to the end of the War for Independence—is known as the American Revolution.

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