On this day :

1776 US declares independence, 1776 American colonies declare independence, 1957 Fiat unveils the Nuova Cinquecento, 1863 Confederates surrender Vicksburg, 1987 Soviets rock for peace, 1954 A sensationalized murder trial inspires The Fugitive, 1911 Heat wave strikes Northeast, 1826 Death of the founding fathers, 1997 Pathfinder lands on Mars, 1927 Playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon born, 1855 First edition of Walt Whitmans Leaves of Grass is published, 1976 The Clash play their first live gig, 1804 Lewis and Clark celebrate July 4, 1826 Thomas Jefferson and John Adams die, 1919 Dempsey defeats Willard, 1963 South Vietnamese officers plot coup, 1968 Thieu vows to wipe out corruption, 1917 US troops march through Paris to Lafayettes tomb, 1943 Polish general fighting for justice dies tragically,