July 4, also known as Independence Day, marks the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the 13 North American colonies officially separated from Great Britain. As the Fourth of July draws nearer, here's a brief rundown of what happened that day in 1776, approximately 249 years ago.

"Born on the Fourth of July" stars Tom Cruise as Ron Kovic, and is based on the memoir of the real Rod Kovic, who co-wrote the movie's screenplay along with director Oliver Stone. The movie follows Ron's life as a child, then a teen, as a boy who longed to fight in a war like his World War II veteran father.