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The birth of United States of America came about after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, after many years of struggle and sacrifices that helped the pre-US Americans break free from their colonial status.
For many years, Congress tried to work out it's differences with England. But the war was yet to be declared formally. By June 1776 their efforts went in vain and a committee was formed to compose a formal Declaration of Independence.
Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman.
Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the Congress on June 28. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence.
After various changes, a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th at a meeting in Philadelphia. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted 'No', Delaware remained undecided while New York abstained.
The first newspaper to print the Declaration was in Pennsylvania on July 6, 1776, and on July 8th the Declaration had it's first public reading in Philadelphia's Independence Square.
The bell in Independence Hall was rung. The "Province Bell" would later be renamed "Liberty Bell" after it's inscription -Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.
Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th of July has come to be accepted as the official anniversary of United States' independence.
In fact, the event came to be recognized as the most important one in American history and the document provided the basis of American Constitution which was issued some 11 years later. The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year - July 4, 1777.
Meanwhile the Americans under George Washington as commander-in-chief kept defeating the British troops. It was only after the British defeat under General Cornwallis in 1781 that Britain gave up. The official recognition didn't come until 1783, when peace was made in Paris. Thus the United States of America came into existence with a union of 13 thirteen sovereign states from Main to Georgia.
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