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15 other historic Independence Day events
July 4 is, of course, when Americans celebrate the Continental Congress's 1776 adoption of the Declaration of Independence. But that's not the only important event in U.S. history to occur on this day of the year.
1863: One day after the Confederacy suffered a disastrous defeat at Gettysburg, the siege of Vicksburg ends as the fortress city in Mississippi surrenders to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.(Photo: AP Photo)
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