A declaration written during a moment of revolution would become one of the most influential statements on liberty and self-government in American history.
Read the Declaration of Independence, principally drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1776.
The document presents the American colonies' case for separating from Great Britain and articulates principles concerning natural rights, equality, government, and the consent of the governed.
Beyond its immediate historical purpose, the Declaration became a foundational text in American political history and a lasting statement about the relationship between individual rights and political authority.
Adopted on July 4, 1776, it remains one of the most important documents associated with the founding of the United States.
Explore the historic document that announced American independence and articulated enduring ideas about liberty and self-government.
