World Countries

    United States
Declared independence on July 4, 1776
From the 1500s through the 1700s, they were settled and colonized by the Spanish, British, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and other European nations.  The original thirteen colonies were held by Great Britain until the Revolutionary War, after which they became the first thirteen states.  There are now 50 states in the United States.  The United States is considered the last true superpower, with the world's largest military and the world's largest economy.


   Israel
Israel became an independent state on May 14, 1948
Following World War Two, the newly-formed United Nations drafted a treaty dividing up some of Palestine's land.  They established an independent Arab state and an independent Jewish state.  Many Jews emigrated to the new nation of Israel post WWII.  Creation of this new Jewish state was not universally accepted by Arabs, even though Israel was officially admitted to the UN on May 11, 1949.  There is still controversy surrounding Israel's very existence in the Middle East.


China
China's official date of independence is October 1, 1949.
China is one of the world's oldest civilizations.  As long ago as 221 BC, China was unified as a nation during the Qin dynasty.  They formed a republic on January 1, 1912.  The current Communist government, officially called the People's Republic of China, was formed in 1949.






Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's independence day is the same as the day the kingdom was founded because they were not ruled by any other country. This day is September 23, 1932.









Iran
Iran is a middle eastern country founded in 1935 and became independent on April 1, 1979 when the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Before Iran gained it's independence, it was know as Persia.









France
France has no official date of independence but, they celebrate a national holiday known as Fete de la Federation on July, 14.This holiday is to celebrate the establishment of a constitutional monarchy dating back to 1789. Te oldest traces of human life in what is now France date back to 1,800,000 years ago.






India
India was under the rule of the United Kingdom and declared independence on August 15, 1947. India was one of the few countries that did not have to fight for their independence.