On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, “unanimously” by the votes of 12 colonies (with New York abstaining) resolved that “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent states.” Two days later, on July 4, the congress approved the Declaration of Independence, which formally cut the colonies’ ties with Great Britain and established the United States of America.
American colonies Article
When did the American colonies declare independence?
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style