American Independence
On the 4th July 1776, John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States. As well as asserting that 'all men are created equal', the declaration stated that 'all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.'

In the 1770s relations between Britain and the 13 American colonies deteriorated and when fighting broke out between the two armies in April 1775, government of the colonies was seized from the British by the Continental Congress. On July 2nd 1776, the Congress voted for Independence and Thomas Jefferson (pictured on the left of this image) drafted the declaration. A copy was sent to George Washington who had it read to his troops in the field. Britain didn't recognise US independence immediately however – this only came in 1783 after a succession of battles in which the Continental armies finally defeated the British forces.