The Declaration of Independence

  • Focus on the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, proclaiming the separation of the thirteen British colonies in North America from Britain. It was based on a resolution proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States." The Declaration announced to the world the colonies’ intentions to break away and explained the colonies’ actions to gain support.
  • Jefferson’s Declaration presents a theory of government grounded in Enlightenment natural law to justify independence and lists grievances against the king to justify separation and to declare war.
  • Written to inform King George III, Parliament, and the world, and to rationalize why dissolution of political ties with Britain was justified and required. The founders believed that such a dissolution deserved a principled explanation in order to be credible and legitimate on the world stage.
  • Enlightenment influence, especially John Locke:
    • All men are created equal.
    • People are born with inalienable rights given by God, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (Locke’s life, liberty, and property).
    • Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.
    • If a government fails to act for the good of the people, the people have the right and duty to alter or abolish it.
  • The Declaration is both a theory of government and a list of grievances that justify separation and a declaration of war/independence.
  • The document is a statement of political philosophy and a call to action, not a constitutional text. It helped galvanize international support (notably with France) and set the stage for the founding of the United States.
  • The Declaration’s major sections: Introduction, Preamble (the theory of government), Indictment of George III (list of grievances), Attempt to redress and appeal to the British and world, Conclusion/Declaration of Independence, and Signers.
  • The work emphasizes that the colonies are absolved from allegiance to the British Crown and that they possess the authority to levy war, conclude peace, form alliances, establish commerce, and do other acts independent states may rightfully do.
  • Signers pledged to each other their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, demonstrating the seriousness and risk involved in declaring independence.
  • Impact: created the United States, symbolized democracy, and facilitated foreign recognition and aid. It helped lead to a Franco-American alliance and international legitimacy, even though the Declaration itself is not a constitutional law document.
  • Check for Understanding and Critical Thinking questions are provided to reinforce comprehension and connect to later constitutional developments.