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[[Image:Declaration_of_independence.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Declaration of Independence; the original is badly faded]]

[[Image:Declaration_of_independence.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Declaration of Independence; the original is badly faded]]

The '''Declaration of Independence''', unanimously approved by the second [[Continental Congress]] on July 4, 1776, created a new nation, the "[[United States of America]]." Written primarily by [[Thomas Jefferson]], it formally "dissolved the connection" between the thirteen American colonies (which were now using the name the "United Colonies") and Britain. July 4 is still celebrated as the nation's birthday.  The document enshrines the basic values of [[republicanism]] as the foundation of America; it inspired similar declarations in over a hundred countries.

The '''Declaration of Independence''', unanimously approved by the second [[Continental Congress]] on July 4, 1776, created a new nation, the "[[United States of America]]." Written primarily by [[Thomas Jefferson]], it formally "dissolved the connection" between the thirteen American colonies (which were now using the name the "United Colonies") and Britain. July 4 is still celebrated as the nation's birthday.  The document enshrines the basic values of [[republicanism]] as the foundation of America; it inspired similar declarations in over a hundred countries.

==Public opinion==

==Public opinion==

==The physical document==

==The physical document==

Gustafson (2002) traces the various locations where the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, (known collectively as the Charters of Freedom), were kept until transferred with great ceremony to the National Archives in 1952. The Declaration was moved from one city to another and was at the Patent Office in Washington from 1841 to 1876, among other locations. The Declaration and the Constitution were in the Library of Congress from 1921 to 1952, amid some rivalry with the National Archives as to their proper location. As part of a new conservation effort, the National Archives constructed new encasements to preserve the documents and return them to public display beginning 17 September 2003.<ref>Milton Gustafson, "Travels of the Charters of Freedom." ''Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives and Records Administration'' 2002 34(4): 274-284. Issn: 0033-1031</ref>

Gustafson (2002) traces the various locations where the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, (known collectively as the Charters of Freedom), were kept until transferred with great ceremony to the National Archives in 1952. The Declaration was moved from one city to another and was at the Patent Office in Washington from 1841 to 1876, among other locations. The Declaration and the Constitution were in the Library of Congress from 1921 to 1952, amid some rivalry with the National Archives as to their proper location. As part of a new conservation effort, the National Archives constructed new encasements to preserve the documents and return them to public display beginning 17 September 2003.<ref>Milton Gustafson, "Travels of the Charters of Freedom." ''Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives and Records Administration'' 2002 34(4): 274-284. Issn: 0033-1031</ref>

==Full text of the Declaration of Independence==

==Full text of the Declaration of Independence==

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.

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.

==Signatures==

==Grievances summary==

— [[John Hancock]]

 

Well established traditions as well as proclamations such as the [[1100 Charter of Liberties]], [[Magna Carta]], the [[English Bill of Rights]] and others signify to the people that the King is not to interfere with the [[God]]-given [[Natural Rights]] of the people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[Image:76485685i79.jpg|right|thumb|400px|The drafting committee presenting the Declaration of Independence to the [[Continental Congress]], painted by [[John Trumbull]] 1817–1819.]]

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

[[New Hampshire]]:

[[Josiah Bartlett]], [[William Whipple]], [[Matthew Thornton]]

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:

The "''others''" with whom the King is thus said to have combined were, of course, the British Parliament, the existence of which as a legally constituted body possessing authority over them the Americans thus refused even by implication to recognise.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hQgeAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA153 The Fortnightly, Volume 34]</ref>

[[Massachusetts]]:

[[John Hancock]], [[Samuel Adams]], [[John Adams]], [[Robert Treat Paine]], [[Elbridge Gerry]]

: '''Grievance 15''':

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

[[Rhode Island]]:

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

[[Connecticut]]:

[[Roger Sherman]], [[Samuel Huntington (signer)|Samuel Huntington]], [[William Williams]], [[Oliver Wolcott]]

[[No taxation without representation]]

: '''Grievance 18''':

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

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[[New York]]:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

[[New Jersey]]:

[[Richard Stockton]], [[John Witherspoon]], [[Francis Hopkinson]], [[John Hart]], [[Abraham Clark]]

: '''Grievance 20''':

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

[[Pennsylvania]]:

[[Robert Morris]], [[Benjamin Rush]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[John Morton]], [[George Clymer]], [[James Smith (signer)|James Smith]], [[George Taylor]], [[James Wilson]], [[George Ross]]

: '''Grievance 21''':

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

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[[Delaware]]:

[[Caesar Rodney]], [[George Read]], [[Thomas McKean]]

: '''Grievance 22''':

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

[[Maryland]]:

[[Samuel Chase]], [[William Paca]], [[Thomas Stone]], [[Charles Carroll of Carrollton]]

: '''Grievance 23''':

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

[[Virginia]]:

[[George Wythe]], [[Richard Henry Lee]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[Benjamin Harrison V|Benjamin Harrison]], [[Thomas Nelson, Jr.]], [[Francis Lightfoot Lee]], [[Carter Braxton]]

: '''Grievance 24''':

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

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[[North Carolina]]:

[[William Hooper]], [[Joseph Hewes]], [[John Penn]]

: '''Grievance 25''':

The hire of [[Hessian Soldiers]] as mercenaries for use against the [[Thirteen Colonies]].

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.

[[South Carolina]]:

[[Edward Rutledge]], [[Thomas Heyward]], [[Thomas Lynch, Jr.]], [[Arthur Middleton]]

: '''Grievance 17''':

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored 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.  

==See also==

==See also==