In 1776, several significant events occurred in the United States, including:
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July 4, 1776: The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which severed the political connections between the 13 American colonies and Great Britain.
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Throughout the winter of 1775-1776: The members of the Continental Congress came to view reconciliation with Britain as unlikely, and independence the only course of action available to them.
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April 1776: The British Parliament prohibited trade with the colonies, and Congress responded by opening colonial ports, which was a major step towards severing ties with Britain.
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May 4, 1776: Rhode Island became the first American colony to renounce allegiance to King George III of Great Britain.
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June 7, 1776: Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution in Congress to declare independence.
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July 2, 1776: Congress voted to declare independence, and two days later, it ratified the text of the Declaration.
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August 2, 1776: The Declaration of Independence was engrossed on parchment.
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September 16, 1776: The Continental Army under Washington was victorious against the British on Manhattan in the Battle of Harlem Heights.
Overall, 1776 was a pivotal year in American history, as it marked the beginning of the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States as an independent nation.
