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The '''Fourth of July''' is the most important national holiday and annual [[celebration]] of the Independence of the [[United States]] from [[Great Britain]]. It started with "Taxation without representation!" and on July 4th, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] and America's 13 colonies broke away from the Kingdom of Great Britain as an independent nation. The very first celebration was held in the nation's capital, then [[Philadelphia]]. Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870, <ref>[http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/history.html History of the Fourth] PBS.org</ref> and as a legal holiday in 1941.

The '''Fourth of July''' is the most important national holiday and annual [[celebration]] of the Independence of the [[United States]] from [[Great Britain]]. It started with "Taxation without representation!" and on July 4th, 1776, the [[Continental Congress]] formally signed the [[Declaration of Independence]] and America's 13 colonies broke away from the Kingdom of Great Britain as an independent nation. The very first celebration was held in the nation's capital, then [[Philadelphia]]. Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870, <ref>[http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/history.html History of the Fourth] PBS.org</ref> and as a legal holiday in 1941.

Most American businesses are closed and the citizens enjoy the holiday with cookouts, get-togethers, concerts, baseball, picnics, barbecues, bon fires, parades, and at night time enjoy displays of [[fireworks]]. Some people hold re-enactments of [[Revolutionary War]] era and some towns give political speeches at events across the nations cities and towns.  

Most American businesses are closed and the citizens enjoy the holiday with cookouts, get-togethers, concerts, baseball, picnics, barbecues, bon fires, parades, and at night time enjoy displays of [[fireworks]]. Some people hold re-enactments of [[Revolutionary War]] era and some people give political speeches at events across the nations cities and towns.  

The [[American flag|Flag]] and symbols of it are in evidence everywhere, in this annual outpouring of [[patriotism]]. An expression of pride and hope can be found in many patriotic songs such as the national anthem The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, My Country 'Tis of Thee and The Stars and Stripes Forever. <ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/patriotic/patriotic-home.html Patriotic Melodies] The Library of Congress</ref>

The [[American flag|Flag]] and symbols of it are in evidence everywhere, in this annual outpouring of [[patriotism]]. An expression of pride and hope can be found in many patriotic songs such as the national anthem The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, My Country 'Tis of Thee and The Stars and Stripes Forever. <ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/patriotic/patriotic-home.html Patriotic Melodies] The Library of Congress</ref>