On what date were the thirteen colonies declared independent?

• A. July 4, 1776
• B. July 4, 1787
• C. December 25, 1776
• D. July 4, 1775

Answer: (A)

Declaring independence happened when the Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the Declaration of Independence, marking the colonies as a new nation separate from Britain. That moment is commemorated as July 4, 1776, because the Declaration was officially adopted and publicly proclaimed on that day. It’s worth noting the Congress had voted for independence on July 2, 1776, but the published Declaration and the public announcement occurred on July 4, which is why that date is celebrated as Independence Day. The other dates don’t reflect the moment when independence was declared: 1787 is tied to the creation of the Constitution, December 25 is Christmas, and 1775 was a year of debate leading up to the decision, not its formal declaration.