The Declaration of Independence

On July 4, 1776, a bold idea changed the world forever. The Declaration of Independence announced that all people are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights — a revolutionary concept that inspired nations across the globe for centuries.

• Founding document signed during the Revolutionary War in 1776

• Proclaimed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as core rights

• Sparked a tradition of July 4 fireworks dating back to 1777

• Still the beacon of American identity 250 years later

Fireworks have lit up American skies every July 4th since 1777 — even as the Revolutionary War raged on. [Science History Institute via NYT](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/04/us/america-250-celebrations-fourth-july)