This is why Americans celebrate the Fourth of July

Today, July 4, marks US Independence Day.

Not to be confused with the action packed science fiction thriller that sky-rocketed Will Smith into the blockbuster action star we know today, July 4 is the day the United States got their independence from the British Empire.

In America, the day is marked with fireworks, parades, picnics, carnivals, baseball games and family reunions, as well as parties and hot dog eating competitions.

So if you browse through social media today, don’t be surprised to find your feed filled with nods to the Star Spangled Banner.

Most commonly known as the Fourth of July, this federal holiday is one of the biggest holidays celebrated on the US calendar. The festivities mark the US commemorating the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776.

The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies should regard themselves as a new nation, which we now know as the United States of America - resulting in them no longer being part of the British Empire.

This is a historically important day for Americans. The patriotic-themed events are there to remind them all of the birth of their nation, shortly after the Revolutionary War.

Though Congress actually voted to declare their independence on the second of July, the Declaration of Independence document was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4^th, with the first draft of the declaration written by Thomas Jefferson.

American patriot and editor of the document, John Adams wrote to his wife: “The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival.”

241 years and 2 days later, he was not wrong.