President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump dance along to music as fireworks light up the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Fireworks light the night sky across the country on Independence Day - Independence Day fireworks shows have kicked off across the East Coast

Known now as a day of patriotism and enjoying time off from work, the Fourth of July began the journey to becoming a quintessential American holiday in 1776, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.