The Declaration of Independence declared this on behalf of the rebellious thirteen American colonies from the Kingdom of Great Britain as thirteen sovereign states that joined together as the United States of America.  Most of us celebrate this on July 4, 1776.  Some such as one of the declaration’s drafters, John Adams, hold or held that July 2, 1776 is actually the correct date.  Though this may fly in the face of tradition and renown, there is some sense in this.  July 2nd is the date on which the Second Continental Congress met at Independence Hall and voted without a single opposing vote to declare our independence.

The draft of the Declaration  was drawn up by a committee of five.  For this committee, John Adams advocated for and Thomas Jefferson did compose the first draft of this treasured document.  Congress would go on to produce the final document that we find so precious in the history of mankind’s struggle for liberty against the face of tyranny.

On its final passage on July 4, Congress caused the Declaration of Independence to be printed as the Dunlap broadside that was widely distributed and read in the public.  This final version contained changes made by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.  Jefferson’s notes on the changes made are kept at the Library of Congress.  Next year, to add a little to this, I will provide a link to these changes or write them out.   The official document is kept on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  This engrossed copy was signed mostly on August 2nd.

In sum, the Declaration justified by the rebellion against King George III through asserting grievances along with natural and legal rights usurped by the king.  Its well known conclusion was that the rights of man include the right to rebel.  The text was much put to the side until Lincoln incorporated it into the Gettysburg Address in 1863.

Since that date, it has become often cited.  This particularly true of its second sentence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, 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.”

These words are the moral standard by which America lives and breathes.  I would be hard pressed to find any more consequential words in American or perhaps any history of mankind.   It is heartening to know that Lincoln held this same view.

As time went on the Declaration of Independence came to influence many other such declarations.  This may be found in the history of Belgium (Declaration of Flanders 1789); across the rest of Europe, Latin America, Liberia in Africa and New Zealand in Oceania.

In researching this post, I was pleasantly surprised to find Trumbell’s painting of the signing.  When I was a small child, this puzzle was a Christmas present to me.  Those were heady days when I dreamed that maybe my life might be more important than I ever had just cause to believe.  Still, my life has been dedicated to keeping the ideals of the Founding Fathers alive and the hope of the American dream continues.

The Declaration of Independence may be read in its entirety here:

http://www.bartleby.com/43/14.html

If you would prefer to listen to it in an audio format, you may listen by clicking here: