Each year on July 4th, Americans come together to celebrate the birth of our nation and the enduring values that define us: liberty, democracy, and freedom. Independence Day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776—a bold declaration that established the United States as a sovereign nation. It wasn’t until 1941, however, that Congress officially declared the Fourth of July a federal holiday, cementing its place as a cherished national tradition filled with parades, fireworks, and patriotic pride.