The Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States, was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. On July 4, 1776, the United States officially declared its independence from the British Empire when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was authored by a “Committee of Five”—John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman—with Jefferson as the main drafter. But Jefferson himself later admitted The Declaration was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare American independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It was adopted by the Congress during the American Revolutionary War, which commenced in April 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Declaration of Independence played a critical role in unifying the colonies for the bloody struggle they faced. Nixon’s July 4 Bash Ended With Tear Gas and Nude Protesters The Declaration of Independence: A History. Nations come into being in many ways. Military rebellion, civil strife, acts of heroism, acts of treachery, a thousand greater and lesser clashes between defenders of the old order and supporters of the new--all these occurrences and more have marked the emergences of new nations, large and small. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring that the 13 American colonies were no longer under British rule. This marked a On July 4, the Continental Congress voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence, drafted by a five-man committee including Franklin and John Adams but written mainly by Jefferson. That same In the minds of many Americans, July 4th is the nation’s birthday—the date celebrated with fireworks, patriotic speeches, and parades across the country. Yet it was on July 2, 1776, that the Continental Congress formally broke ties with Great Britain by adopting the Lee Resolution, a brief but momentous declaration of independence that severed the legal bonds between the thirteen American Explore the events leading up to the signing and publication of the Declaration of Independence. Each version tells part of the story. Be intrigued by the Founding Fathers' reflections on the Declaration years later. Use these links to learn more about the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. Was this page helpful? He was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris peace with Britain, and the Constitution. Foundational in defining the American ethos, Franklin has been called "the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become". The Declaration of Independence on 4th of July. The foundation of 4th of July celebrations lies in one of history’s most important documents. The Declaration of Independence didn’t just announce America’s break from Britain—it established principles that would influence democratic movements worldwide. The Declaration of Independence was The Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence—written largely by Jefferson—in Philadelphia on July 4, a date now celebrated as the birth of American independence. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it explains why the Thirteen Colonies decided to separate from Great Britain during the American Revolution (1765-1789). It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on 4 July 1776, the anniversary of which is celebrated in the US as Independence Day. Most know that the Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, but many don’t know where the popular traditions today originated. A timeline of the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence, with links to detailed information about these events, and the people, places and things surrounding the Declaration and the Revolutionary War The Declaration was unanimously adopted by the Second Continental Congress a week later, on July 4, 1776, at present-day Independence Hall Washington's covert crossing of the Delaware River over the night of December 25–26, 1776, represented a major comeback for the cause of American independence following the loss of New York City, allowing In recognition of Independence Day, the Jack Miller Center presents the following collection of resources about the Declaration of Independence, its history and its political and theoretical legacy. Together, the three parchments from Philadelphia (the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution) made an indelible imprint on the course of history. Residents and visitors can see original printed copies of all three in the Great Essentials exhibit at Independence Hall. In 1776, towns across Massachusetts were required to read the Declaration of Independence first at church and then they were told to enter it into their permanent town record. Isaiah Thomas read the Declaration of Independence in public at the Worcester Old South Meeting House on July 14, 1776. Click on a thumbnail below to view the full-sized During the spring of 1776, colonies, localities, and groups of ordinary Americans—including New York mechanics, Pennsylvania militiamen, and South Carolina grand juries—adopted resolutions endorsing independence.
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