Road to Liberty: Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, is one of the most beautiful and important political documents in history.  Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration not only proclaimed American Independence from Great Britain, it also enshrined Americans’ natural rights as the cornerstone of our republic. “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” Jefferson masterfully wrote, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

As the British laid siege to the continent and landed large armed forces in Boston and New York, many colonists grew to believe the only sure path to freedom was through independence. The Declaration also increased foreign support for the colonies, particularly from the French, who were persuaded that the conflict was a clear break from Britain, not an internal civil war.

The Declaration's preamble makes clear that the colonies were establishing their independence based upon the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God." The document also enumerates 27 grievances against King George III, rebuking his imposition of taxes without representation, the quartering of British soldiers in private homes, and the deprivation of trial by jury, among others. The signers conclude by pledging to each other, "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."