Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence 

What is the Declaration of Independence? 

The Declaration of Independence is a document that was approved by the Continental Congress and that announced the separation of the American colonies from the nation of Britain. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most famous documents in American history and it formally declared America to be its own country that would govern itself. 

When Was the Declaration of Independence Approved? 

The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on July, 4th, 1776. This day subsequently became known as Independence Day, one of America’s most important national holidays. The Declaration of Independence was approved during the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. 

Who Wrote the Declaration of Independence? 

A committee of five men, known as the Committee of Five was tasked by the Continental Congress to write the Declaration of Independence. These five men consisted of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Thomas Jefferson was the primary writer of the Declaration. However, the other men edited Jefferson’s draft. 

What was the Content of the Declaration of Independence? 

The Declaration of Independence primarily consisted of an explanation of why it is necessary for people to form their own governments when they are being mistreated and gave a list of reasons why the colonies believed themselves to be mistreated by Great Britain. Among the grievances against the British crown listed in the Declaration of Independence were taxation without representation, the denial of trial by jury, the forced quartering of British soldiers, keeping standing armies in America without the consent of Americans, destroying the lives, of American people, etc. 

Who Signed the Declaration of Independence? 

56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. These men would go on to be known as the “Founding Fathers” of America. The first man to sign the Declaration of Independence was John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress. His signature was so large, distinctive, and flamboyant that in later years, his name because synonymous with the word, signature. All of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence were delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Some of the most notable men who signed the Declaration of Independence were: 

• John Adams 

• Samuel Adams 

• John Hancock 

• Thomas Jefferson 

• Benjamin Franklin 

• Robert Morris 

• James Wilson 

• Richard Henry Lee 

• George Wythe 

Each man who signed the Declaration of Independence knew that it would be considered an act of treason by the British government and that if they lost the war, it would almost certainly mean death by hanging. Yet, they all signed it anyway, expressing immense courage and faith in their cause of liberty.  After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Benjamin Franklin famously said, “We must indeed, all hang together, or, most assuredly, we will all hang separately.” 

Consequences of the Declaration of Independence 

The Declaration of Independence represents the point at which the American colonies united together and fully committed to the cause of independence. Although there was been skirmishes between the British army and colonists before this, the Declaration of Independence showed that the colonists were not going to give up and that they indeed intended to fight a war for their independence. Eventually, the colonies won and became what is now known as the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence has gone down in history as one of the most important documents of all time for the principles of liberty, equality, and democracy.