One month before Congress adopted the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson drafted it in a rented Philadelphia apartment as only four colonies had authorized their delegates to back independence.
The text set out two core claims: people possess unalienable rights—including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—and governments derive power from the governed, not divine right.
Jefferson then argued that a long train of abuses by King George III justified altering or abolishing government, saying the colonies had repeatedly sought redress before turning to separation.
The document went on to list 27 grievances and ended by declaring the colonies free and independent states, with delegates pledging their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the break with Britain.
A lost Declaration copy surfaced in Britain. What new secrets might it reveal about the American Revolution?
Was Thomas Paine's radical vision of democracy too extreme for America's founders?
Was King George III a tyrant, or the convenient scapegoat for America’s revolution?
The Making and Legacy of the Declaration of Independence: From Drafting to Global Inspiration
Overview
The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, became the foundational document of the United States and a lasting symbol for democracy around the world. Thomas Jefferson, its main author, saw it as crucial not only for America but for the fate of the world. The Declaration’s principles have shaped American identity and inspired global movements for freedom. Its famous statement that all men are created equal set a moral standard, even though its full promise was not realized at first. Over time, the Declaration’s ideals have continued to influence both the nation and people seeking independence everywhere.