We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

History

In 1777, thirteen guns were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell, Americans celebrated the first anniversary of independence on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

Holiday

In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees. And in 1931, Congress changed Independence Day from a non-paid federal holiday to a paid federal holiday.

Celebration

In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.

A salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a salute to the union, is fired only on Independence Day at noon. America’s Freedom Festival at Provo, in Utah, is one of the largest freedom festivals. It includes one of the largest Independence Day parades, and the Stadium of Fire.

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue. Decorations are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades often are in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

Source: wikipedia.org http://en.wikipedia.org