The United States celebrated its 250th birthday in 2026, according to gdelt. In the early 1770s, the thirteen colonies were ruled by Great Britain, gdelt reported. A group of colonists separated from British rule, gdelt said. After a year of fighting in the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence was signed, gdelt reported. The Revolutionary War continued for several more years before the colonies secured independence, gdelt noted. Many families of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were jailed, and the lands and properties of the signers were taken away, gdelt added. The sacrifices required to maintain American freedom have continued over the past 250 years, gdelt said.