government
July 4th: The Declaration of Independence is what we celebrate
By Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· July 1, 2026
· 9 min read
History tells us that it was a hot, steamy day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776.The Continental Congress, sweating from the humidity, and surely from the fact they were committing treason, had two days before voted to approve a motion from the colony of Virginia to separate from the...
Key takeaway The colonies that would become the United States of America had been at war with King George for more than 440 days when the Declaration was formally adopted on July 4 by 12 of the 13 colonies – New York would approve it on July 19.
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Category: government ·
Published: July 1, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 9 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? History tells us that it was a hot, steamy day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776.The Continental Congress, sweating from the humidity, and surely from the fact they were committing treason, had two days before voted to approve a motion from the colony of Virginia to separate from the...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 1, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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