The United States is celebrating Independence Day as President Trump kicked off the festivities with the America250 campaign, a day before signing a major tax bill into law on Friday.

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.

While demonstrations from Washington to Los Angeles were largely festive, with food trucks and live music, protesters were determined to speak for their cause.