Why is there such a celebration of July 4th, but barely a mention of September 17th? I am not saying that we shouldn't celebrate the day we declared our independence from Britain, but isn't the day we ratified our constitution just as important? Many people think that the declaration is what our government is based on, but it isn't. The declaration is just that a document telling King George III that we are no longer part of the British Empire and are separate and independent States. It is long because we were kind enough to tell him why we were leaving, but we didn't have to. The listing of evidence against the crown was more for the world than for us.