When countries earned their independence, and celebrate it

AMERICANS celebrate their independence from Britain on July 4th with fireworks, hot dogs and a sea of Star-Spangled Banners. Freedom in 1776 came around 170 years after the first English settlers landed. The United States was the first of more than 50 countries that eventually became independent from Britain. Far-flung colonies peopled with pioneers or prisoners were hard to administer and tended to break away earlier than closer territories. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1810 and other Spanish colonies swiftly followed. Brazil earned its freedom from Portugal in 1822. Canada became independent in 1867 (on better terms than neighbouring America), though it wasn't until 1982 that the country divested itself fully of Britain's role in constitutional matters. Like America, Canada also celebrates its independence in July. It is the most popular month for countries to fete their freedom. The biggest wave of independence started in the late 1950s, when most of Africa was freed of British, French, Portuguese and Belgian rule. The next bloc to earn its freedom was in the early 1990s when the Soviet Union fell and satellite states had their sovereignty restored.