On the question of when America declared its independence, that would depend.
America is a big place with a lot of countries. The United States of America on the other hand, did it in 1776.
It is interesting to note that the Monroe Doctrine (Europe won't fiddle around in our backyard) only really lasted until the second country in America declared its independence, in the world's only successful slave revolt, Haiti. Dixie Representatives and Senators did everything they could to block recognition of Haiti for years, and even had Marines landed on the island, because they didn't want their own slaves getting ideas.
"Be ye not lost amongst Precept of Order." - Book of Uterus, 1:5, "Principia Discordia, or How I Found Goddess and What I Did to Her When I Found Her."
