Description Readers will discover the history of Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, and the many ways Americans celebrate the national holiday. On Independence Day, Americans celebrate their freedom. They remember when the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. It said that the thirteen colonies in North America were free of British rule. Today, Americans celebrate on the Fourth of July by having parades, lighting fireworks, and gathering at festivals. Readers will learn about the history of Independence Day and its many traditions.