What year marked the United States' declaration of independence?

The United States declared its independence in the year 1776, specifically on July 4th. This date is significant because it marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, a document that proclaimed the thirteen American colonies as free and independent states, no longer under British rule. The declaration was largely authored by Thomas Jefferson and expressed the colonies’ grievances against King George III, outlining the principles of individual liberty and government based on the consent of the governed. This year is celebrated annually in the U.S. as Independence Day, a pivotal moment in American history that laid the groundwork for the formation of the United States.

The other years mentioned in the choices are linked to different significant events in American history: 1783 is the year the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Revolutionary War; 1775 marks the beginning of armed conflict with the Battles of Lexington and Concord; and 1787 is notable for the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.