On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the annulment of all obligations of loyalty to the British Crown and severing political ties with Britain. This day became Independence Day, the national holiday of the United States.

For the delegates, this decision was extremely painful. From 1607, when Britain established its first colony in North America, to 1776—a span of 170 years—North American colonists had enjoyed the freedom, peace, prosperity, and order provided by Britain’s relatively lenient rule. They were loyal subjects of the British king and proud of their homeland. The Puritans who crossed the ocean on the Mayflower could never have imagined that their descendants would betray their mother country and establish a new nation.

At the time of signing, the atmosphere in the congressional hall was extremely tense. None of the 56 delegates from the thirteen colonies felt joy. The Declaration of Independence was both the birth certificate of a nation and, in effect, a death sentence for all signatories. By signing it, the delegates were formally acknowledging their “treason.” If captured by Britain, they would be hanged.

Washington’s Continental Army numbered at most 20,000, while the British army had over 50,000 soldiers. The Continental Army suffered severe shortages of weapons, ammunition, clothing, supplies, and pay. In the days just before Christmas 1777, Washington and his 11,000 troops wintered at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. More than half had no shoes. Over 3,000 died there from starvation, cold, and disease.