United States Declaration of Independence

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United States Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence.jpg
1823 facsimile of the engrossed copy
CreatedJune–July 1776
RatifiedJuly 4, 1776
LocationEngrossed copy: National Archives
Rough draft: Library of Congress
Author(s)Thomas Jefferson et al. (Engrosser: Possibly Timothy Matlack)
Signatories56 delegates to the Continental Congress
PurposeTo announce and explain separation from Great Britain[1]

United States Declaration of Independence is an important document in the history of the United States of America. It was ratified on July 4, 1776. It says that the Americans were no longer under British rule. Instead, the thirteen British colonies came together to become a new country.

Before the Declaration[change | change source]


Effects[change | change source]

During this time, many American people were angry at Great Britain. Many Americans did not like paying taxes to Great Britain when they did not have anyone to speak for them in Parliament. The American people wanted to be treated like British citizens. When they were not treated like everyone should have the right to have the freedom of speech and that all men and women are created equal

Taking action[change | change source]

Jefferson drafted the Declaration on this portable lap desk, which he designed himself

Responding to actions taken by Great Britain, including the Intolerable Acts, the different colonies formed a Continental Congress to make decisions for all of the colonies. They met in the American city of Philadelphia. During a meeting of the Second Continental Congress, on June 11, 1776, they chose five people to write a document that would become the Declaration of Independence. These people were:

The Declaration of Independence[change | change source]

What it says[change | change source]

Jefferson did most of the writing.[2][3] In the Declaration, Jefferson starts by writing about people's rights, and what the government should and should not do. This part of the Declaration is called the Preamble. He then lists specific bad things that the British government did to the colonies. He says these included putting people in jail with no reason; making taxes that were too high; and not respecting people who lived in the colonies.

Agreeing on the Declaration[change | change source]

This famous painting shows the five men who wrote the Declaration showing their work to the Congress.[4]

On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress argued about the Declaration and made some changes to it. After making changes, they approved the Declaration. They declared their independence from the British Empire that day, at the Pennsylvania State House.

However, the Continental Congress did not officially approve the Declaration until July 4. On that day, twelve of the thirteen groups that represented the colonies approved and ordered the Declaration to be printed. (The Province of New York did not vote.) This version of the Declaration was signed only by the President of the Congress, John Hancock.

On July 15, the New York group agreed with the rest of the colonies' groups. This meant that everyone in the Congress agreed on the Declaration.

On July 19, the Declaration's title was changed from "A Declaration of the Representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled" to "the unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America."

Overall, 56 men signed the Declaration. However, some people signed at different times. Many people signed a parchment paper copy of the Declaration on July 2.[5] Many of these signers were not there when the original Declaration was adopted on July 4.[5] One signer, Matthew Thornton, from the Province of New Hampshire, signed on November 4, 1776.[5]

Effects of the Declaration[change | change source]

The Declaration of Independence had many different effects.

Effects on Great Britain[change | change source]

When the King of Great Britain, King George III, and Parliament heard about the Declaration, they were angry. Great Britain and the people in America had already been fighting in a war called the American Revolution. America won the war, and in 1783 Great Britain had to recognize the independence of the new country, the United States, at the Treaty of Paris.

Effects on America[change | change source]

The people of America know that the Declaration of Independence is very important. Every year on July 4, they have a holiday called 'Independence Day'. They celebrate this holiday to remember the day that the Declaration was approved, and the day that the United States of America became its own country. They often celebrate with parades, fireworks, and songs.

The Declaration of Independence also talks about the simple ideas that the people who started the United States believed in. It says that every person in this U.S has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It also says that the government has to listen to its own people. These things were what made America a free independent country.

Text[change | change source]

Starting text[change | change source]

The initial text says that a declaration of independence must be well-reasoned:


The Preamble[change | change source]

The preamble of the declaration is the best-known part.


Simple English translation[change | change source]

We think these truths are obvious:

  • That all men are created equally
  • That their Creator gives them rights that cannot be taken away
    • That these rights include the rights to life, freedom (liberty), and pursuit of happiness(property/wealth)
  • That governments are created to protect these rights
  • That governments have power only if the people they are governing agree that they do
  • That whenever a government no longer protects these rights, the people it governs have a right to change or eradicate that government. They also have a right to create a new government that is more likely to protect their safety and freedom
  • That governments which have existed for a long time should not be changed for small reasons. However, if a government abuses the people which they govern over and over again, the people have the right to get rid of that government, if they so choose.

Present day[change | change source]

The Declaration of Independence can be viewed at the National Archives Museum near the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Related pages[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. Becker, Declaration of Independence, 5.
  2. "Declaration of Independence - Thomas Jefferson (Library of Congress Exhibition)". loc.gov. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  3. "Thomas Jefferson | The White House". whitehouse.gov. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  4. Wills, Inventing America, 348.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 The U.S. State Department (1911), The Declaration of Independence, 1776, pp. 10, 11.

Other websites[change | change source]

Maps, photos, and other media[change | change source]

Signers[change | change source]