The United States declared its independence in the year 1776. This significant event occurred on July 4, when the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. This declaration announced that the colonies regarded themselves as independent states, free from British rule. The move was prompted by increasing tensions between the colonies and the British government, driven by issues such as taxation without representation. The declaration not only represented a momentous break from colonial governance but also laid the foundation for the principles of democracy and individual rights that would shape the nation.