US Declaration of Independence
The United States declared independence from Britain
July 04, 1776
The Document That Founded a Nation
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing that the thirteen American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson over about 17 days, the document declared that "all men are created equal" and that people have the right to overthrow a government that fails to protect their natural rights. Britain dismissed it. History did not.
The War Already Underway
The American Revolution had already been going for over a year when independence was declared. The Battle of Lexington and Concord had been fought in April 1775. George Washington had been commanding the Continental Army for a year. The Declaration did not start the war — it gave it an official purpose and made reconciliation with Britain impossible. It also helped convince France to enter the conflict on America's side, which proved decisive.
Influence Around the World
The Declaration inspired revolutions and independence movements around the globe for the next two centuries — the French Revolution in 1789, Latin American independence movements in the early 1800s, and dozens of 20th-century anti-colonial independence declarations. Its language about equality and rights became a standard against which governments everywhere could be judged — including the United States itself, which took nearly another century to abolish slavery. Use the date calculator to see exactly how old the United States is today.