When and From Whom Did the US Become an Independent Country? Know What Exactly Happened

July 4, 2025, marks the 249th Independence Day of the United States. The U.S. became an independent country from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. Since then, July 4 is celebrated annually as Independence Day in the US. This pivotal moment was the defining act of the American Revolution, which was marked by the Continental Congress's adoption of the Declaration of Independence. This document formally severed the political ties between the 13 American colonies and the British Crown. Asserting their status as an independent nation, the American colonists secured an official alliance with the French government, as per the National Archives. This provided them with vital assistance in their war against Great Britain. 

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When America got Independence and from Whom?

America got its independence on July 4, 1776, through the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. This formally established the United States of America's independence from Great Britain. The vision and hard work of key figures who are known as the Founding Fathers, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison, drafted the foundational documents, which were essential in steering the nation toward self-governance. 

Timeline of the American Revolution

The Stamp Act's passage in 1765 and the ratification of the US Bill of Rights in 1791 marked the beginning of the American Revolution. The military phase of the revolution, known as the American Revolutionary War, raged from 1775 to 1783. The independence was formally recognised in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

Why did America want Independence from Great Britain?

Throughout the 1760s and early 1770s, the North American colonists clashed with British policies, especially on taxation and frontier issues. Disputes over taxation without representation and new frontier policies raised widespread discontent among people. There were protests and boycotts, which failed to sway British Parliament, and it declared martial law in Massachusetts. In response, colonial governments sent delegates to a Continental Congress to coordinate a unified resistance. Fighting started in Massachusetts, which made the Continental Congress organize more people to fight against the British. This led to the British authority being weakened, but some colonists remained loyal to the Crown. Many colonial leaders initially still wanted to make peace with Britain, not declare independence.

When was the Declaration of Independence Written and Adopted?

The Declaration of Independence was officially adoptedon July 4, 1776, after Thomas Jefferson crafted it. Its main purpose was to formally announce and explain why the 13 American colonies were severing their political ties with Great Britain, and it laid out the motivations for seeking independence. This included a list of grievances against King George III and the British government's policies.

Before this, Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion for independence in Congress on June 7, 1776. Although some colonies were not yet fully ready, Congress formed a committee to draft a formal declaration. Thomas Jefferson was assigned the task, and in less than three weeks, he crafted the document from his Philadelphia boarding house. Jefferson’s initial draft was reviewed by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams as per Office of the Historian. They made revisions, and the final draft was presented to Congress on June 28, 1776, and after further debate, the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. 

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How did the US win the War for Independence?

The Declaration of Independence officially broke political ties. But real independence still needed to be won in battle. One of the biggest impact of the declaration was that the other countries could now officially recognise America. This also led to very crucial alliances, and one of them was the 1778 Treaty of Alliance with France. France gave America important military and money help in the war against Great Britain. Not only this, but Morocco acknowledged American ships in 1777. In addition to this, the Netherlands officially recognised the U.S. in 1782. Later on, Spain also fought Britain.

The hard-fought War of the American Revolution ultimately concluded with the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Under its terms, Great Britain officially acknowledged the United States as a sovereign and independent nation and solidified the birth of a new country on the global stage.