CHAPTER 8: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. The Declaration of Independence announced our independence from Great Britain. This is why we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th.
Another word for "Declaration" is "statement." Another word for "Independence" is "freedom." The Declaration of Independence is a "statement of freedom."
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that everyone has the right to:
⚫ life;
⚫ liberty; and ⚫ the pursuit of happiness.
In "Declaration of Independence," by John Trumbull, Thomas Jefferson and his committee present the formal statement of independence from Great Britain. Courtesy of the National Archives.
When the colonists adopted the Declaration of Independence, they created the United States of America. The 13 original colonies became the 13 original states.
The Declaration of Independence. Courtesy of the National Archives.
Assembly room of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed. Courtesy of the National Park Service.