| | '''Independence Day''' is the celebration of the birthday of the [[United States of America]], referred to in [[Secularized Language|secularized language]] as July 4 or the Fourth of July. On July 4, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally adopted the [[Declaration of Independence]]; thus, breaking ties with the Kingdom of [[Great Britain]], and a new nation was born.<ref>The Congress had already voted for independence on July 2, 1776 and on July 4 it gave the reasons in the ''Declaration of Independence.''.</ref> The document, primarily written by [[Thomas Jefferson]], served as a formal announcement that the 13 American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire and would henceforth be free and independent states.<ref>[http://www.history.com/videos/jefferson-writes-declaration-of-independence Jefferson Writes Declaration of Independence]. ''The History Channel website''. 2010. Accessed Jul 4, 2010.</ref> This document contains the most influential sentence in the [[English]] language: | | '''Independence Day''' is the celebration of the birthday of the [[United States of America]], referred to in [[Secularized Language|secularized language]] as July 4 or the Fourth of July. On July 4, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally adopted the [[Declaration of Independence]]; thus, breaking ties with the Kingdom of [[Great Britain]], and a new nation was born.<ref>The Congress had already voted for independence on July 2, 1776 and on July 4 it gave the reasons in the ''Declaration of Independence.''.</ref> The document, primarily written by [[Thomas Jefferson]], served as a formal announcement that the 13 American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire and would henceforth be free and independent states.<ref>[http://www.history.com/videos/jefferson-writes-declaration-of-independence Jefferson Writes Declaration of Independence]. ''The History Channel website''. 2010. Accessed Jul 4, 2010.</ref> This document contains the most influential sentence in the [[English]] language: |