Every Independence Day, Americans celebrate the founding of the United States. Yet for several months after July 4, 1776, the self-proclaimed United States of America looked set to go down in history as a nation that never was. That August, in the biggest battle of the Revolution, the British trounced the Continental Army on Long Island, nearly forcing an American surrender. The author of the passage uses the phrase self-proclaimed most likely to emphasize that during the months immediately following July 4, 1776, the United States: A) defeated Britain in a major battle on Long Island. B) had not yet been recognized as an independent nation. C) would greatly expand its Continental Army. D) was declared a nation by several European countries.

Every Independence Day, Americans celebrate the founding of the United States. Yet for several months after July 4, 1776, the self-proclaimed United States of America looked set to go down in history as a nation that never was. That August, in the biggest battle of the Revolution, the British trounced the Continental Army on Long Island, nearly forcing an American surrender. The author of the passage uses the phrase self-proclaimed most likely to emphasize that during the months immediately following July 4, 1776, the United States: A) defeated Britain in a major battle on Long Island. B) had not yet been recognized as an independent nation. C) would greatly expand its Continental Army. D) was declared a nation by several European countries.