united states declaration independence declaration independence statement adopted meeting philadelphia pennsylvania july announced thirteen american colonies war regarded thirteen newly independent sovereign states longer british rule instead formed new nation united_states_of_america leader pushing independence passed july opposing vote cast committee drafted formal declaration ready congress voted independence term declaration independence document persuaded committee select compose original draft document congress edit produce final version declaration ultimately formal explanation congress voted july declare independence great_britain year outbreak american revolutionary war day july wrote wife second day july memorable history america national birthday independence day celebrated july date declaration independence signed text july congress issued declaration independence forms initially published printed broadside widely distributed read public source copy printing lost copy hand jefferson original draft complete changes jefferson notes changes congress preserved best known version declaration signed copy popularly regarded official document displayed washington copy ordered congress july signed primarily august sources interpretation declaration subject scholarly inquiry declaration justified independence united_states listing colonial grievances king asserting certain natural legal rights including right revolution having served original purpose announcing independence references text declaration following years abraham_lincoln centerpiece rhetoric address policies known statement human rights particularly second sentence hold truths self evident men created equal endowed creator certain rights life liberty pursuit happiness called best known sentences english language containing potent words american history passage came represent moral standard united_states view notably promoted abraham_lincoln considered declaration foundation political philosophy argued declaration statement principles united_states constitution interpreted united_states declaration independence inspired similar documents countries 18th 19th centuries spreading low countries caribbean balkans west_africa decades background believe dear sir british empire man loves union great_britain god cease exist yield connection terms propose think speak sentiments america time declaration independence adopted july great_britain war year relations colonies mother country deteriorating parliament enacted series measures increase revenue colonies parliament believed acts stamp act legitimate means having colonies pay fair share costs colonies british_empire colonists developed different conception empire colonies directly represented parliament colonists argued parliament right levy taxes tax dispute larger divergence british american interpretations british constitution extent parliament authority colonies orthodox british view dating glorious revolution parliament supreme authority empire definition parliament constitutional colonies idea developed british constitution recognized certain fundamental rights government parliament violate acts began question parliament legitimate jurisdiction colonies anticipating arrangement american writers arguing parliament legislature great_britain colonies connected rest empire allegiance crown congress issue parliament authority colonies crisis parliament passed known acts colonies punish colonists saw acts violation british constitution threat liberties september convened philadelphia coordinate response congress organized boycott british goods petitioned king repeal acts measures unsuccessful king george ministry prime minister lord north determined retreat question parliamentary supremacy king wrote north november blows decide subject country independent fighting american revolutionary war began lexington concord april colonists hoped reconciliation great_britain convened philadelphia delegates hoped eventual independence advocated declaring colonists longer believed parliament sovereignty professed loyalty king george hoped behalf disappointed late king rejected congress second petition issued proclamation rebellion announced parliament october considering friendly offers foreign assistance suppress rebellion pro american minority parliament warned government driving colonists independence independence january clear colonies king inclined act pamphlet published recently arrived colonies england argued favor colonial independence advocating alternative monarchy hereditary rule common sense introduced new ideas probably little direct effect congress thinking independence importance public debate topic previously openly discuss public support separation great_britain steadily increased publication enormously popular pamphlet colonists held hope reconciliation developments early strengthened public support independence february colonists learned parliament passage act established blockade american ports declared american ships enemy vessels strong supporter independence believed parliament effectively declared american independence congress able adams labeled act act calling british_empire support declaring independence grew confirmed king george hired german mercenaries use american subjects despite growing popular support independence congress lacked clear authority declare delegates elected congress thirteen different governments included conventions hoc committees elected assemblies bound instructions given regardless personal opinions delegates vote declare independence instructions permitted action colonies fact prohibited delegates taking steps separation great_britain instructions ambiguous issue public sentiment separation great_britain grew advocates independence sought congressional instructions revised congress declare independence majority need authorization vote independence colonial government need specifically grant permission delegation propose declaration independence congress april july complex political war waged bring instructions campaign revise congressional instructions americans formally expressed support separation great_britain effectively state local independence identified ninety issued april july took variety forms formal written instructions congressional april north_carolina colony explicitly authorize delegates vote independence legislative acts officially ended british rule individual colonies rhode_island legislature declare independence great_britain resolutions adopted town county meetings offered support independence came form jury instructions statement issued april chief justice south_carolina law land declare george king great_britain authority owe obedience obscure having overshadowed declaration approved congress july colonies held endorsing independence resistance centered middle colonies new_york new_jersey maryland pennsylvania delaware advocates independence saw pennsylvania key colony converted pro independence cause believed follow opponents independence retained control special election focused question independence response congress passed resolution promoted calling colonies government sufficient affairs adopt new governments resolution passed unanimously supported pennsylvania leader anti independence faction congress believed apply colony custom congress appointed committee draft explain purpose resolution wrote stated king george rejected reconciliation hiring foreign mercenaries use colonies necessary exercise kind authority said crown totally suppressed adams meant encourage overthrow governments pennsylvania maryland governance congress passed days debate middle colonies voted maryland delegation walked protest adams regarded effectively american declaration independence formal declaration lee resolution final push day congress passed adams radical set stage formal congressional declaration independence convention instructed virginia congressional delegation propose respectable body declare free independent states allegiance dependence crown accordance instructions virginia presented resolution congress june motion called congress declare independence form foreign alliances prepare plan colonial confederation resolution relating declaring independence read resolved right ought free independent states allegiance political connection state great_britain ought totally dissolved lee resolution met resistance ensuing debate opponents resolution conceding reconciliation great_britain unlikely argued declaring independence premature securing foreign aid priority advocates resolution countered foreign governments intervene internal british struggle formal declaration independence needed foreign aid possible congress needed insisted declare fact exists delegates pennsylvania delaware new_jersey maryland new_york authorized vote independence threatened leave congress resolution adopted congress voted june postpone discussion lee resolution weeks congress decided committee prepare document announcing explaining independence event lee resolution approved brought july support congressional declaration independence consolidated final weeks june june instructed delegates propose independence following day new_hampshire delaware authorized delegates declare independence pennsylvania political struggles ended dissolution colonial assembly june new authorized pennsylvania delegates declare independence june governing province january resolved royal governor enemy liberties country arrested june chose new delegates congress empowered join declaration independence maryland new_york authorize independence end june previously adopted adams radical maryland delegates walked sent instructions rejected adams instructing delegates remain independence went maryland thanks local resolutions favor independence able change mind june new_york delegates unable revised instructions congress considering resolution independence june told delegates wait june evacuated new_york british forces approached july meant new_york delegates authorized declare independence congress decision draft adoption political maneuvering setting stage official declaration independence document explaining decision written june congress appointed committee consisting pennsylvania virginia new_york connecticut draft declaration committee left minutes uncertainty drafting process proceeded accounts written years later frequently cited contradictory entirely reliable certain committee discussing general outline document follow decided jefferson write draft committee general jefferson particular thought adams write document adams persuaded committee choose jefferson promised consult jefferson personally considering congress busy schedule jefferson probably limited time writing seventeen days likely wrote draft quickly consulted changes produced copy incorporating alterations committee presented copy congress june title document declaration representatives united states america assembled congress ordered draft lie table days congress edited jefferson primary document shortening fourth removing unnecessary wording improving sentence structure congress removed jefferson assertion britain forced slavery colonies order moderate document persons britain supported revolution jefferson wrote congress draft version declaration finally produced according biographer majestic document inspired contemporaries monday july having draft declaration congress resolved committee virginia presiding resumed debate lee resolution independence effort delay decision arguing congress declare independence securing foreign alliance gave speech reply case immediate declaration long day speeches vote taken colony cast single vote delegation colony numbering seven members voted determine colony vote pennsylvania south_carolina voted declaring independence new_york delegation lacking permission vote independence delaware cast vote delegation split voted yes voted remaining voted favor independence meant resolution approved committee step resolution voted congress south_carolina opposed lee resolution moved vote postponed following day july south_carolina reversed position voted independence pennsylvania delegation allowing delegation vote favor independence tie delaware delegation broken timely arrival voted independence new_york delegation authorized vote independence allowed week later resolution independence adopted votes colonies officially severed political ties great_britain famous letter written wife following day predicted july great american holiday adams thought vote independence commemorated americans including instead celebrate independence day date announcement act finalized voting favor resolution independence congress turned attention committee draft declaration days debate congress changes wording deleted nearly fourth text notably passage critical slave trade changes jefferson resented july wording declaration independence approved sent printer publication distinct change wording original broadside printing declaration final official copy word unanimous inserted result congressional resolution passed july resolved declaration passed 4th fairly title unanimous declaration thirteen united_states_of_america signed member congress text declaration declaration divided formal sections discussed consisting parts introduction indictment king george british people conclusion influences legal status historians sought identify sources influenced words political philosophy declaration independence jefferson admission declaration contained original ideas instead statement sentiments widely shared supporters american revolution explained aiming originality principle sentiment copied particular previous writing intended expression american mind expression proper tone spirit called occasion jefferson immediate sources documents written june draft constitution virginia draft virginia declaration rights ideas phrases documents appear declaration independence turn directly influenced english declaration rights formally ended reign king american revolution jefferson americans looked english declaration rights model end reign king scottish declaration dutch act offered models models accepted scholars jefferson wrote number authors exerted general influence words declaration english political theorist jefferson called greatest men lived usually cited primary influences historian wrote americans absorbed works kind political gospel declaration form follows closely certain sentences second treatise government extent influence american revolution questioned subsequent scholars declared argued dominant influence swiss jefferson opposite poles political philosophy evidenced jefferson use declaration independence phrase pursuit happiness instead property scholars emphasized influence classical argued jefferson influenced scottish enlightenment particularly interpretation strongly criticized legal historian written emphasis political philosophy declaration declaration philosophical tract natural rights argues instead legal document indictment king george violating constitutional rights colonists historian argued declaration strongly influenced law nations dominant international law treatise period book said continually hands members congress writes independence fundamental definition primary purpose declaration express international legal sovereignty united_states united_states hope recognized european powers american revolutionaries clear longer dependent great_britain declaration independence force law domestically help provide historical legal clarity constitution laws signing declaration official congress voted july signatures delegates needed official copy declaration independence signed congress dated july signatures delegates exact date person signed long subject debate jefferson franklin adams wrote declaration signed congress july disputed declaration signed july pointing present including elected congress date according record events secretary declaration paper adopted signed president congress july august paper copy declaration signed persons present original declaration adopted july new_hampshire seated november asked received privilege adding signature time signed november historians generally accepted version events arguing famous signed version declaration created july signed congress august legal historian argued historians misunderstood primary documents given present congress july according thirty delegates signed declaration july signed august historians reject july signing maintain delegates signed august eventual present added names later future presidents signatories famous signature copy president congress presumably signed large flamboyant signature iconic emerged united_states informal synonym signature commonly circulated account claims signed delegate massachusetts commented british ministry read report indicates declared guess king george able read legends signing declaration emerged years later document important national symbol famous story supposedly said congress having signed declaration hang replied yes hang shall hang separately quotation appear print years franklin death signing signing united_states constitution publication reaction congress approved final wording declaration july copy sent blocks away printing shop night printed distribution long declaration read audiences reprinted newspapers thirteen states official public reading document yard independence hall july public readings took place day new_jersey pennsylvania german translation declaration published philadelphia july president sent broadside general george_washington instructing proclaimed head army way shall think proper washington declaration read troops new_york_city july thousands british troops ships harbor washington congress hoped declaration inspire soldiers encourage join army hearing declaration crowds cities tore destroyed signs statues representing royal authority equestrian statue king george new_york_city pulled lead musket balls british officials north_america sent copies declaration great britain published british newspapers beginning mid august reached florence warsaw mid september german translation appeared switzerland october copy declaration sent france got lost second copy arrived november reached brazilian medical student met spanish american authorities banned circulation declaration widely transmitted translated distributed declaration united states constitution chile indians mexico official answer declaration instead secretly commissioned publish response entitled answer declaration american congress denounced declaration applying principles life liberty pursuit happiness african americans royal governor massachusetts published pamphlets challenged aspects declaration argued american revolution work conspirators wanted independence outset finally achieved inducing loyal colonists rebel pamphlet anonymous attack concept natural rights written argument repeat french revolution pamphlets asked american congress men created equal freeing slaves declaration independence fought war freed slave revolutionary ideals postwar decades freed slaves percentage free blacks increased percent percent black population northern states abolished slavery history documents official copy printed july jefferson supervision sent states army widely reprinted newspapers slightly different copy shown article later members sign version widely distributed 21st century note opening lines version differ copy declaration signed congress known copy probably carefully clerk poor conservation copy 19th century original basis modern custody copy declaration united_states_constitution transferred japanese attack pearl harbor documents moved kentucky kept declaration transferred permanent display charters freedom document signed congress usually regarded declaration independence historian argued declaration like single document considered printed ordered congress official texts declaration published broadside printed night july philadelphia printed known survive 26th copy discovered congress commissioned print new broadside unlike broadside listed declaration copies broadside known exist variety printed states extant early copies drafts declaration preserved jefferson kept page draft late life called original rough draught drafts jefferson wrote prior text contributed committee members unknown discovered fragment earlier draft jefferson jefferson adams sent copies rough draft slight variations friends writing process jefferson showed rough draft adams franklin members drafting committee changes franklin example responsible changing jefferson original phrase hold truths sacred hold truths self evident jefferson incorporated changes copy submitted congress committee copy submitted congress june lost destroyed printing process destroyed debates accordance congress secrecy rule legacy having served original purpose announcing independence united_states declaration initially neglected years immediately following american revolution early celebrations independence day like early histories revolution largely ignored declaration act declaring independence considered important text announcing act attracted little attention declaration rarely mentioned debates united_states_constitution language incorporated document draft virginia declaration rights influential language echoed state state bills rights jefferson words documents wrote evidence whatsoever declaration independence lived men minds classic statement american political principles influence countries leaders french revolution admired declaration independence interested new american state inspiration content french declaration rights man citizen emerged largely ideals american revolution key drafts prepared working closely paris friend borrowed language virginia declaration rights declaration influenced russian_empire document particular impact revolt russian according historian declaration independence prove internationally influential statement human rights argued declaration new genre independence announced creation new states french leaders directly influenced text declaration independence manifesto province flanders foreign declaration include declaration independence declaration independence echoed united_states declaration independence announcing independence new state necessarily endorsing political philosophy original countries declaration inspiration directly copied sections declaration january revolution argentine declaration independence chilean declaration independence costa_rica el_salvador guatemala honduras mexico nicaragua peru war independence ecuador colombia dominican_republic texas declaration independence march november hungarian declaration independence declaration independence new_zealand declaration independence drafted declaration independence ratified november based american phrases men created equal consent governed south_carolina declaration december mentions declaration independence like references men created equal consent governed revival interest interest declaration revived emergence united_states political parties americans knew cared wrote declaration decade republicans sought political advantage rival promoting importance declaration jefferson author responded casting doubt jefferson authorship originality emphasizing independence declared congress jefferson member drafting committee insisted congress act declaring independence played major role important document announcing act view like fade away long act declaring independence synonymous document partisan appreciation declaration emerged years following war thanks growing american nationalism renewed interest history revolution congress commissioned famous painting exhibited large crowds installed capitol earliest commemorative declaration appeared time offering americans view signed document collective biographies published 1820s giving birth called cult years followed stories writing signing document published time interest declaration revived sections important announcement independence united_states grievances king george longer relevant second talk self evident truths rights applicable long war ended constitution bill rights lacked sweeping statements rights equality advocates groups turned declaration support starting 1820s variations declaration issued rights workers farmers women example meeting women rights advocates declared men women created equal slavery declaration contradiction claim men created equal existence american slavery attracted comment declaration published mentioned jefferson included initial draft strongly indicted great_britain role slave trade deleted final version jefferson prominent virginia slave holder having owned hundreds slaves referring contradiction english abolitionist wrote letter object truly ridiculous nature american patriot signing resolutions hand whip slaves 19th century declaration took special significance abolitionist movement wrote tended interpret declaration independence theological political document abolitionist leaders adopted twin rocks bible declaration independence basis long remains single copy declaration independence bible land wrote garrison despair radical like garrison important declaration assertion right revolution garrison called destruction government constitution creation new state dedicated principles declaration controversial question add additional slave states united_states coincided growing stature declaration major public debate slavery declaration took place missouri controversy argued language declaration indicated founding fathers united_states opposed slavery principle new slave states added country led senator north_carolina argued declaration constitution relevance question movement gaining momentum defenders slavery found necessary argue declaration assertion men created equal false apply black people debate kansas nebraska act example senator indiana argued men created equal self evident truth self evident lie opponents kansas nebraska act including defended declaration saw principles lincoln declaration declaration relationship slavery taken abraham_lincoln little known congressman founding fathers lincoln thought declaration independence expressed highest principles american revolution founding fathers tolerated slavery expectation ultimately away united_states expansion slavery kansas nebraska act thought lincoln principles revolution october speech lincoln said nearly eighty years ago began declaring men created equal beginning run declaration men sacred right self government republican trailed dust let let adopt declaration independence practices policy shall saved union shall saved forever worthy saving meaning declaration recurring topic famed debates lincoln douglas argued men created equal declaration referred white men purpose declaration said simply justify independence united_states equality inferior degraded race lincoln thought language declaration deliberately universal setting high moral standard american republic thought declaration contemplated progressive improvement condition men said seventh joint debate illinois october lincoln said declaration think authors notable instrument intended include men mean declare men equal respects mean men equal color size intellect moral development social capacity defined consider men created equal equal certain rights life liberty pursuit happiness said meant mean assert obvious actually enjoying equality immediately fact power meant simply declare right enforcement follow fast circumstances permit meant set standard maxim free society familiar constantly looked constantly perfectly attained constantly constantly spreading deepening influence happiness value life people colors according douglas interpretation historically accurate lincoln view ultimately prevailed lincoln hands wrote declaration independence foremost living document set goals realized time like lincoln argued declaration independence founding document united_states important implications interpreting constitution ratified decade declaration constitution use word equality lincoln believed men created equal remained nation founding principles famously expressed belief opening sentence address score seven years ago fathers brought forth continent new nation conceived liberty dedicated proposition men created equal lincoln view declaration moral guide interpreting constitution influential people wrote declaration means lincoln told means way constitution lincoln praised development critics lincoln notably argued lincoln dangerously expanded scope national government violated states rights reading declaration constitution women suffrage declaration july falls convention held new_york convention organized declaration sentiments patterned declaration independence convention members demanded social political equality women motto men women created equal convention demanded suffrage women suffrage movement supported legacy adoption declaration independence winning musical play movie television miniseries text declaration chosen book available internet declaration featured alternative history novel word added document read governments derive power unanimous consent governed memorial declaration dedicated national mall washington signatures original carved stone names places residences declaration document risk novel tries steal declaration burn publicly july copy declaration central hollywood film national treasure main character steals document believes secret clues treasure hidden founding fathers signing declaration featured united_states dollar bill building new_york_city feet high symbolize year declaration independence signed
United States Declaration of Independence