On August 14, 1945, news spread in the United States that Japan had accepted Allied surrender terms. Spontaneous celebrations erupted in cities across the country, with crowds gathering in public squares and downtown streets. The announcement meant that World War II was effectively over, although formal documents would be signed later. The day became known in the U.S. as V-J Day, short for Victory over Japan. For many Americans, it brought a mix of relief, joy, and remembrance of those lost in the war. The occasion marked the end of a global conflict that had lasted nearly six years.
