Millions of Americans gather together every year to celebrate the Fourth of July with hometown parades, family BBQs, and, of course, fireworks. But July 4 is about so much more than those things. We get to celebrate those freedoms thanks to those who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

Fighting For Our Freedom

The colonies issues with the British started long before the American Revolutionary War. British policies beginning in 1765 were met with opposition from colonies.

The beginning of the end was The Tea Act of 1773. When the Continental Congress met on June 7 in Philadelphia, Richard Henry Lee had a resolution.

"Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

Richard Henry Lee

Declaration of Independence

By 1776, Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet called "Common Sense."

It had a clear argument for independence from Britian. It caught the eye of Continental Congress and Thomas Jefferson.

A committee and Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. The draft went through many changes from the Committee. However, the spirit of the document never changed.

The document was approved on July 2 and officially adopted on July 4. Interestingly enough, New York did not vote and Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted no. It passed with 9 out of 13 votes.

Free, But Still Fighting

George Washington did not vote as he was out on the battlefield. He did, however, announce to the troops that the country they were fighting for declared itself an independent nation.

Even though our independence was declared on July 4, 1776, we continued to battle until 1783. In fact, there were over 230 skirmishes and battles over the course of five years.

The Revolutionary War was finally over when we signed the Treaty of Paris. The United States of America was officially a free and independent nation.

Today, enjoy your Fourth, your freedom, your families, and honor those who fought for those freedoms and continue to do so. Happy Independence Day!