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130 Declaration of Independence Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in American history. It not only laid the foundation for the birth of a new nation but also outlined the fundamental principles and rights that would shape its future. Writing an essay on this historic document can be a fascinating and enlightening experience. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 130 essay topic ideas and examples related to the Declaration of Independence.

Discuss the historical context in which the Declaration of Independence was written.
Analyze the philosophical influences on the Declaration of Independence, such as John Locke's theories.
Examine the role of Thomas Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence.
Explore the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the American Revolution.
Discuss the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence and their significance.
Analyze the language and rhetoric used in the Declaration of Independence.
Explore the influence of Enlightenment ideas on the Declaration of Independence.
Discuss the role of women in the Declaration of Independence and their exclusion from its rights.
Examine the international impact of the Declaration of Independence on other independence movements.
Discuss the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Analyze the Declaration of Independence as a persuasive document.
Discuss the relevance of the Declaration of Independence in modern American society.
Examine the historical inaccuracies or omissions in the Declaration of Independence.
Discuss the role of the Declaration of Independence in shaping American identity.
Analyze the different interpretations and meanings of the Declaration of Independence over time.
Discuss the limitations and contradictions within the Declaration of Independence.
Explore the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the abolitionist movement.
Analyze the reactions of different social groups to the Declaration of Independence.
Discuss the influence of Native American perspectives on the Declaration of Independence.
Examine the role of religion in the Declaration of Independence.
Analyze the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the concept of human rights.
Discuss the role of slavery in the Declaration of Independence.
Explore the significance of the phrase "all men are created equal" in the Declaration of Independence.
Analyze the economic implications of the Declaration of Independence.
Discuss the significance of the Declaration of Independence for future generations.
Examine the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the concept of self-governance.
Discuss the role of the Declaration of Independence in inspiring other independence movements worldwide.
Analyze the role of education in understanding the Declaration of Independence.
Discuss the criticisms and challenges to the principles laid out in the Declaration of Independence.
Examine the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the concept of citizenship.
Discuss the role of the Declaration of Independence in shaping American foreign policy.
Analyze the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the American Dream.
Explore the role of natural law in the Declaration of Independence.
Discuss the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the concept of revolution.
Examine the role of the Declaration of Independence in promoting democracy worldwide.
Analyze the role of the Declaration of Independence in promoting social justice.
Discuss the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the concept of individual rights.
Explore the role of the Declaration of Independence in inspiring other declarations of independence.
Analyze the role of the Declaration of Independence in promoting civil rights movements.
Discuss the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the concept of national identity.
Examine the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the concept of consent of the governed.
Analyze the role of the Declaration of Independence in promoting the separation of powers.
Discuss the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the concept of limited government.
Explore the role of the Declaration of Independence in promoting social equality.
Analyze the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the concept of patriotism.
Discuss the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the concept of political legitimacy.
Examine the role of the Declaration of Independence in promoting the rule of law.
Discuss the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the concept of natural rights.
Analyze the impact of the Declaration of Independence on the concept of social contract.
Explore the role of the Declaration of Independence in promoting the concept of popular sovereignty.

Examples of Essay Topics:

The Influence of John Locke's Ideas on the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution: Cause and Effect.

The Language and Rhetoric of the Declaration of Independence: Persuasion Techniques.

The Declaration of Independence and the Founding Fathers' Vision of America.

The Declaration of Independence and the Women's Rights Movement: A Comparative Analysis.

The Declaration of Independence and Slavery: A Paradoxical Relationship.

The Declaration of Independence and its Impact on the Abolitionist Movement.

The Declaration of Independence and Native American Perspectives: A Critical Examination.

The Economic Implications of the Declaration of Independence: A Historical Analysis.

The Declaration of Independence and Its Influence on International Independence Movements.

The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution: Complementary or Contradictory Documents?

The Declaration of Independence and the Concept of Human Rights: An Evolutionary Perspective.

The Declaration of Independence and Religion: Separation of Church and State.

The Declaration of Independence: Historical Inaccuracies and Omissions.

The Declaration of Independence and American Identity: A Multicultural Perspective.

The Declaration of Independence and its Interpretations: From the Founding Era to Today.

The Declaration of Independence and its Limitations: A Critical Examination.

The Declaration of Independence and the Role of Women: A Historical Analysis.

The Declaration of Independence and the Impact of Slavery: A Controversial Legacy.

The Declaration of Independence and the Concept of Self-Governance: Lessons for Today.

These are just a few examples of the numerous essay topics that can be explored in relation to the Declaration of Independence. Whether you choose to delve into its historical context, philosophical influences, or its impact on various social, political, and economic aspects, writing an essay on this iconic document offers a unique opportunity to delve into the foundations of American society. As you choose your topic, consider which aspect of the Declaration of Independence resonates with you the most, and dive deep into the rich history and significance it holds.

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84 Declaration of Independence Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on declaration of independence, ✍️ declaration of independence essay topics for college, 👍 good declaration of independence research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting declaration of independence research titles.

Common Sense vs. The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence
Criminal Justice Professionals and the Declaration of Independence
Memorial of the Cherokee Council and the Declaration of Independence Comparison
Plan de Iguala & The Declaration of Independence
Equality in the US Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence and American Colonies
Common Sense vs. The Declaration of Independence The War of Independence marked an important period in the history of the United States when first colonies declared their freedom from the British Empire.
The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence is America’s most important historical document. The first opening paragraphs of the Declaration assert the fundamental principles of government
Criminal Justice Professionals and the Declaration of Independence This essay shall focus on the circumstances that preceded these documents, their adoption, and what all criminal justice professionals should know about the preparation.
Memorial of the Cherokee Council and the Declaration of Independence Comparison Both letters have their style and rhetorical techniques. The Cherokee letter is aimed at asking for help and security, while the Declaration announces freedom.
Plan de Iguala & The Declaration of Independence The paper examines the differences and similarities of “Plan de Iguala” and “The Declaration of Independence” as the documents are the calling of people to gain independence.
Equality in the US Declaration of Independence The US declaration of independence and the notion of equality are topics that have been explored at length, especially due to disagreements regarding the meaning of equality.
Declaration of Independence and American Colonies This paper compares the draft of the Declaration of Independence and the final Declaration outlining the major changes and what they portray about the American colony.
Declaration of Independence and Cultural Issues Today The main goals of this paper are to analyze the Declaration of Independence and describe its impact on current cultural issues.
Egypt’s Declaration of Independence Egypt’s independence was achieved at a time when Great Britain became one of the victorious powers in the First World War.
US: Declaration of Independence The United States sought to break free from British rule, severing emotional and political ties with the reigning monarchy after the long- and short-term disagreements over ideals.
Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Letter to Danbury Baptists The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are the key documents in US history. The Letter to the Danbury Baptists serves as a corroboration for American values.
Declaration of Independence and Constitution The Declaration of Independence is a list of grievances against the English king, and it broke the political ties between Great Britain and the American colonies.
The US Declaration of Independence The theory and its key assumption behind The Declaration of Independence of the United States from England were based on the Laws of Nature and God.
The American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence Cultural and geographic separation from Britain was a crucial cause of the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence is a critical document for the foundation of the US.
The Declaration of Independence in 1776 The paper discusses the declaration of Independence was the most significant event in US history which happened after the 13 colonies came together to fight for it.
The US Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence of the United States is divided into two main parts. The Declaration used abstract expressions about natural human rights.
Declaration of Independence and Paine’s Common Sense Thomas Jefferson’s “Declaration of Independence” and Thomas Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense” were the key manifests of the American Revolutionary movement.
The Declaration of Independence from Douglass’ Perspective The Declaration of Independence 1776 outlines the reasons why they decided to dissolve their political connection to the empire.
The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson The major part of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson that is applicable to the current social system is connected to the obligation to protect civilian rights.
Declaration of Independence’s Evolution Between 1776 and the Civil War This paper provides a detailed view of the declaration of independence and its evolutionary factors over recognition and fair treatment of women and slavery.
Personal Historical Manifesto: Declaration of Independence It goes without saying that as a country, the United States was founded on the principles of human rights, social equality, tolerance, freedom, and democracy.
The Declaration of Independence: The Most Treasured Document of the USA The Declaration of Independence is the most treasured document of the United States of America because it affirmed its colonies’ liberation, that was at a clash with Great Britain.
The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution The main reason for the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution was the British refusal to recognize the colonists’ right to life, liberty, and property.
Declaration of Independence and Paine’s “Common Sense” The article compares the Declaration of Independence to Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” and assesses the role of these documents in achieving independence for the United States.
Declaration of Independence: History To assess the full significance and meaning of the Declaration it is necessary to delve into its historical background and text.
The Declaration of United States Independence The purpose of this paper is not only to explore the Declaration of Independence but also identifying links to contemporary issues in governmental or cultural patterns.
The US Declaration of Independence and Modern Trends The US Declaration of Independence, which is now stored in the National Archives, is one of the fundamental steps that have influenced modern cultural and political trends.
Analyzing the Style and Virtue of the Declaration of Independence
Comparing Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and Marx’s the Communist Manifesto
Freedom and Equality Among Men in the Declaration of Independence
The Impact of the Declaration of Independence on Oppression in America
Reasons for the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for the People in the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence as Issues in the Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Separation From England and Declaration of Independence
Slavery and the Declaration of Independence for the American Revolution
The Hypocrisy Behind the Creation of the American Declaration of Independence
Events That Influenced on Declaration of Independence
The Issues Considered Upon Writing the Declaration of Independence
The Key Aspects That Changes the American Lives in the Declaration of Independence
Analyzing the Structure and Language of the Declaration of Independence
The Natural Rights, Popular Sovereignty, and Social Contract as the Foundation of the Declaration of Independence
The Risks, Challenges and Benefits That Came With the Declaration of Independence
A Loyalists View of the Declaration of Independence
The Similarities and Differences Between Signing of the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence
The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson’s Own Personal Feelings in the Declaration of Independence
Enlightenment Ideas in the Declaration of Independence
Myths Associated With the Declaration of Independence
The Original Objectives and Historical Importance of the Declaration of Independence in America
Unveiling the Declaration of Independence From Debate to Ink
The Declaration of Independence as a Blueprint for Freedom and Democracy
The Key Arguments of Jefferson for the Declaration of Independence
Evaluation of the Purpose of the Declaration of Independence
The Influence of the American Declaration of Independence on the Foundation of the United States
The Contested Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
Dissection of the Declaration of Independence With Emphasis on the Ideology of Social Contract
The Mystery of the Lost Original of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence and the American Theory of Government
Lockean Ideals in the Declaration of Independence
The Changing Reputation of the Declaration of Independence During the First Fifty Years
The Declaration of Independence in Constitutional Interpretation
Congressional Debate on Slavery and the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence in World Context
The Domestic Insurrections of the Declaration of Independence
The Constitutional Relevance of the Second Sentence of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence as Part of an American National Compact
Changing Interpretations and a New Hypothesis of the Declaration of Independence
The Rhetorical Ancestry of the Declaration of Independence
The Contemporary Significance of the American Declaration of Independence
Self-Rule and Liberty in the Declaration of Independence
The Relation Between Conscious and Unconscious Influences of the American Declaration of Independence
The Political Theory of the Declaration of Independence
Speech of John Dickinson Opposing the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence and Other Great Documents of American History
Self-Evident Truths in the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence in the Light of Modern Criticism

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These essay examples and topics on Declaration of Independence were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 5, 2024 .

The Declaration of Independence

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In what ways is the Declaration of Independence a timeless document, and in what ways is it a product of a specific time and place? Is it primarily a historical document, or is it relevant to the modern era?

How does the Declaration of Independence define a tyrant? And how convincing is the argument the signers make that George III was a tyrant?

The Declaration of Independence does not establish any laws for the United States. But how do its ideas influence the Constitution or other documents that do establish laws?

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Declaration of Independence

By: History.com Editors

Updated: March 28, 2023 | Original: October 27, 2009

july 4, 1776, the continental congress, the declaration of independence, the american revolution

The Declaration of Independence was the first formal statement by a nation’s people asserting their right to choose their own government.

When armed conflict between bands of American colonists and British soldiers began in April 1775, the Americans were ostensibly fighting only for their rights as subjects of the British crown. By the following summer, with the Revolutionary War in full swing, the movement for independence from Britain had grown, and delegates of the Continental Congress were faced with a vote on the issue. In mid-June 1776, a five-man committee including Thomas Jefferson , John Adams and Benjamin Franklin was tasked with drafting a formal statement of the colonies’ intentions. The Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence—written largely by Jefferson—in Philadelphia on July 4 , a date now celebrated as the birth of American independence.

America Before the Declaration of Independence

Even after the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did–like John Adams– were considered radical. Things changed over the course of the next year, however, as Britain attempted to crush the rebels with all the force of its great army. In his message to Parliament in October 1775, King George III railed against the rebellious colonies and ordered the enlargement of the royal army and navy. News of his words reached America in January 1776, strengthening the radicals’ cause and leading many conservatives to abandon their hopes of reconciliation. That same month, the recent British immigrant Thomas Paine published “Common Sense,” in which he argued that independence was a “natural right” and the only possible course for the colonies; the pamphlet sold more than 150,000 copies in its first few weeks in publication.

Did you know? Most Americans did not know Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence until the 1790s; before that, the document was seen as a collective effort by the entire Continental Congress.

In March 1776, North Carolina’s revolutionary convention became the first to vote in favor of independence; seven other colonies had followed suit by mid-May. On June 7, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence before the Continental Congress when it met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution and called a recess for several weeks. Before departing, however, the delegates also appointed a five-man committee–including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York–to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain. That document would become known as the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson Writes the Declaration of Independence

Jefferson had earned a reputation as an eloquent voice for the patriotic cause after his 1774 publication of “A Summary View of the Rights of British America,” and he was given the task of producing a draft of what would become the Declaration of Independence. As he wrote in 1823, the other members of the committee “unanimously pressed on myself alone to undertake the draught [sic]. I consented; I drew it; but before I reported it to the committee I communicated it separately to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams requesting their corrections….I then wrote a fair copy, reported it to the committee, and from them, unaltered to the Congress.”

As Jefferson drafted it, the Declaration of Independence was divided into five sections, including an introduction, a preamble, a body (divided into two sections) and a conclusion. In general terms, the introduction effectively stated that seeking independence from Britain had become “necessary” for the colonies. While the body of the document outlined a list of grievances against the British crown, the preamble includes its most famous passage: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

The Continental Congress Votes for Independence

The Continental Congress reconvened on July 1, and the following day 12 of the 13 colonies adopted Lee’s resolution for independence. The process of consideration and revision of Jefferson’s declaration (including Adams’ and Franklin’s corrections) continued on July 3 and into the late morning of July 4, during which Congress deleted and revised some one-fifth of its text. The delegates made no changes to that key preamble, however, and the basic document remained Jefferson’s words. Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence later on the Fourth of July (though most historians now accept that the document was not signed until August 2).

The Declaration of Independence became a significant landmark in the history of democracy. In addition to its importance in the fate of the fledgling American nation, it also exerted a tremendous influence outside the United States, most memorably in France during the French Revolution . Together with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights , the Declaration of Independence can be counted as one of the three essential founding documents of the United States government.

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Background Essay: The Declaration of Independence

Background Essay: Declaration of Independence

Guiding Question: What were the philosophical bases and practical purposes of the Declaration of Independence?

I can explain the major events that led the American colonists to question British rule.
I can explain how the concepts of natural rights and self-government influenced the Founders and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

Essential Vocabulary

Directions: As you read the essay, highlight the events from the graphic organizer in Handout B in one color. Think about how each of these events led the American colonists further down the road to declaring independence. Highlight the impacts of those events in another color.

In 1825, Thomas Jefferson reflected on the meaning and principles of the Declaration of Independence. In a letter to a friend, Jefferson explained that the document was an “expression of the American mind.” He meant that it reflected the common sentiments shared by American colonists during the resistance against British taxes in the 1760s and 1770s The Road to Independence

After the conclusion of the French and Indian War, the British sought to increase taxes on their American colonies and passed the Stamp Act (1765) and Townshend Acts (1767). American colonists viewed the acts as British oppression that violated their traditional rights as English subjects as well as their inalienable natural rights. The colonists mostly complained of “taxation without representation,” meaning that Parliament taxed them without their consent. During this period, most colonists simply wanted to restore their rights and liberties within the British Empire. They wanted reconciliation, not independence. But they were also developing an American identity as a distinctive people, which added to the anger over their lack of representation in Parliament and self-government.

After the Boston Tea Party (1773), Parliament passed the Coercive Acts (1774), punishing Massachusetts by closing Boston Harbor and stripping away the right to self-government. As a result, the Continental Congress met in 1774 to consider a unified colonial response. The Congress issued a declaration of rights stating, “That they are entitled to life, liberty, & property, and they have never ceded [given] to any sovereign power whatever, a right to dispose of either without their consent.” Military clashes with British forces at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill in Massachusetts showed that American colonists were willing to resort to force to vindicate their claim to their rights and liberties.

In January 1776, Thomas Paine wrote the best-selling pamphlet Common Sense which was a forceful expression of the growing desire of many colonists for independence. Paine wrote that a republican government that followed the rule of law would protect liberties better than a monarchy. The rule of law means that government and citizens all abide by the same laws regardless of political power.

The Second Continental Congress debated the question of independence that spring. On May 10, it adopted a resolution that seemed to support independence. It called on colonial assemblies and popular conventions to “adopt such government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce [lead] to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular and America in general.”

Five days later, John Adams added his own even more radical preamble calling for independence: “It is necessary that the exercise of every kind of authority under the said Crown should be totally suppressed [brought to an end].” This bold declaration was essentially a break from the British.

“Free and Independent States”

On June 7, Richard Henry Lee rose in Congress and offered a formal resolution for independence: “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved [set free] from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.” Congress appointed a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence, while states wrote constitutions and declarations of rights with similar republican and natural rights principles.

On June 12, for example, the Virginia Convention issued the Virginia Declaration of Rights , a document drafted in 1776 to proclaim the natural rights that all people are entitled to. The document was based upon the ideas of Enlightenment thinker John Locke about natural rights and republican government. It read: “That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights … they cannot by any compact, deprive or divest [take away] their posterity [future generations]; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

The Continental Congress’s drafting committee selected Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence because he was well-known for his writing ability. He knew the ideas of John Locke well and had a copy of the Virginia Declaration of Rights when he wrote the Declaration. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were also members of the committee and edited the document before sending it to Congress.

Still, the desire for independence was not unanimous. John Dickinson and others still wished for reconciliation. On July 1, Dickinson and Adams and their respective allies debated whether America should declare independence. The next day, Congress voted for independence by passing Lee’s resolution. Over the next two days, Congress made several edits to the document, making it a collective effort of the Congress. It adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4. The document expressed the natural rights principles of the independent American republic.

The Declaration opened by stating that the Americans were explaining the causes for separating from Great Britain and becoming an independent nation. It stated that they were entitled to the rights of the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.”

The Declaration then asserted its universal ideals, which were closely related to the ideas of John Locke. It claimed that all human beings were created equal as a self-evident truth. They were equally “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So whatever inequality that might exist in society (such as wealth, power, or status) does not justify one person or group getting more natural rights than anyone else. One way in which humans are equal is in possession of certain natural rights.

The equality of human beings also meant that they were equal in giving consent to their representatives to govern under a republican form of government. All authority flowed from the sovereign people equally. The purpose of that government was to protect the rights of the people. “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” The people had the right to overthrow a government that violated their rights in a long series of abuses.

The Declaration claimed the reign of King George III had been a “history of repeated injuries and usurpations ” [illegal taking] of the colonists’ rights. The king exercised political tyranny against the American colonies. For example, he taxed them without their consent and dissolved [closed down] colonial legislatures and charters. Acts of economic tyranny included cutting off colonial trade. The colonists were denied equal justice when they lost their traditional right to a trial by jury in special courts. Acts of military tyranny included quartering , or forcing citizens to house, troops without consent; keeping standing armies in the colonies; waging war against the colonists; and hiring mercenaries , or paid foreign soldiers, to fight them. Repeated attempts by the colonists to petition king and Parliament to address their grievances were ignored or treated with disdain, so the time had come for independence.

In the final paragraph, the representatives appealed to the authority given to them by the people to declare that the united colonies were now free and independent. The new nation had the powers of a sovereign nation and could levy war, make treaties and alliances, and engage in foreign trade. The Declaration ends with the promise that “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Americans had asserted their natural rights, right to self-government, and reasons for splitting from Great Britain. They now faced a long and difficult fight against the most powerful empire in the world to preserve that liberty and independence.

The Declaration of Independence Answer Key

The Declaration of Independence

America's Founders looked to the lessons of human nature and history to determine how best to structure a government that would promote liberty. They started with the principle of consent of the governed: the only legitimate government is one which the people themselves have authorized. But the Founders also guarded against the tendency of those in power to abuse their authority, and structured a government whose power is limited and divided in complex ways to prevent a concentration of power. They counted on citizens to live out virtues like justice, honesty, respect, humility, and responsibility.

Background Essay Graphic Organizer and Questions: The Declaration of Independence

Declaration Preamble and Grievances Organizer: Versions A and B

Thomas Jefferson Looks Back on the Declaration of Independence

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Research Topics About Declaration Of Independence

Men’s Equality and Freedom in the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence and the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Abigail Adams Before the Declaration of Independence
How Has the Declaration of Independence Affected American Oppression?
The Declaration of Independence’s Charges Against King George
Pursuing Democratic Principles From the United States Constitution to the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence
From the Declaration of Independence to a Letter from a Birmingham Jail, the Fight for Equality
The Risks, Challenges, and Benefits of the Declaration of Independence in the United States
Rhetorical Analysis of the United States Declaration of Independence
Equality: The Declaration of Independence of the US and Sexual Orientation
Analyzing the Declaration of Independence’s Style and Virtue
The Meaning Rings: An Examination of Text in the Declaration of Independence and Its Relationship to Current Events
Declaration of Independence: The Right to Form a New Government
The United States of America’s Constitution and Declaration of Independence
The United States Declaration of Independence and Its Modern Equivalent
Comparing the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence, the Three Key Documents in American History
The Declaration of Independence: American Ideals and the Reasons for Independence from Great Britain
Analyzing the Declaration of Independence’s Structure and Language
The Impact of the American Declaration of Independence on the World

Declaration Of Independence Essay Titles

Liberty, Life, and the Pursuit of Happiness for the People in the Declaration of Independence
Social Contract, Popular Sovereignty, and Natural Rights as the Foundation of the Declaration of Independence
Human Rights in the US Declaration of Independence: “All Men Are Created Equal”
The Hypocrisy Involved in the Writing of the American Declaration of Independence
God, Government, and the Declaration of Independence of the United States
Comparison of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Declaration of Independence
Independence from England and the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence and Racial Tension
Modern America Has Fallen Short of the Five Ideas Enshrined in the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence: Reasons for Writing it
Declaration of Independence and Slavery for the American Revolution
Five American Thinkers and How the Declaration of Independence Influenced Their Writings
The Declaration of Independence’s Laws and Rules
The American Declaration of Independence, the Enlightenment, and Romanticism
The Declaration of Independence’s Key Aspects That Changed American Lives
The Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence and Native Americans
The Declaration of Independence’s Original Goals and Historical Importance in America
Declaration of Independence and the American Dream
The Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson

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The first amendment, historic document, the declaration of independence.

Second Continental Congress | 1776

1912, photogravure print by Dodson, S. of signing the Declaration of Independence.

On July 4, 1776, the United States officially declared its independence from the British Empire when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was authored by a “Committee of Five”—John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman—with Jefferson as the main drafter. But Jefferson himself later admitted that he was merely looking to reflect the “mind of Americans”—bringing together the core principles at the heart of the American Revolution. The Declaration also included a list of grievances against King George III, explaining to the world why the American colonies were separating from Great Britain. The American Revolution ended with the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 and the Treaty of Paris in 1783. A little over two decades after King George III took the throne, the American people had broken from Great Britain and begun a new experiment in republican government.

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In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.—Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

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America's Founding Documents

Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum .) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original.

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.